1653 


HISTORIC 


1903 


HUNTINGTON 


LONG  ISLAND 

N.  Y. 


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Because  it  has  been  said 
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Avery  Architectural  and  Fine  Arts  Library 
Gift  of  Seymour  B.  Durst  Old  York  Library 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2013 


http://archive.org/details/historichuntingtOOunse 


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Press  of  Redfield  Brothers,  New  York 


Introduction 


THIS  little  volume  is  produced  as  a  sou- 
venir of  Huntington.  It  does  not  pre- 
tend to  be  a  history.  It  does  not  claim 
to  present  all  the  attractions  of  the  good 
old  town.  It  can  be,  from  its  very  nature,  scarcely 
more  than  a  suggestion  as  to  what  Huntington 
has  been,  is,  and  will  be.  It  is  presented  as  a  frag- 
ment of  true  history,  collected  from  the  most  re- 
liable sources  and  also  as  a  meagre  glimpse  into 
the  beauties  and  advantages  which  nature  has  be- 
stowed upon  the  region. 

It  must  be  explained  that  the  section  which  is 
celebrating  in  the  year  1903  its  two  hundred  and 
fiftieth  anniversary  includes  not  only  the  present 
town  of  Huntington  but  also  the  town  of  Babylon, 
for  this  latter  town  was  originally  a  part  of  Hunt- 
ington. It  then  extended  across  Long  Island,  from 


the  Sound  to  the  Sea.  Within  the  bounds  of  this 
large  township  are  now  the  villages  of  Huntington, 
Coldspring  Harbor,  Halesite,  Fair  Ground,  Green- 
lawn,  Centreport,  Northport,  Larkfield,  Commack, 
Elwood,  Melville,  Pinelavvn,  Deer  Park,  YYvan- 
dance,  Babylon,  Lindenhurst,  and  Amitvville,  each 
of  which  has  been  dignified  with  a  separate  post 
office,  besides  many  other  settlements  and  hamlets 
of  equal  natural  attraction  and  considerable  im- 
portance. 

This  book  can  only  mention  some  of  the  con- 
ditions which  have  made  Huntington  what  it  is  to- 
day. It  cannot  undertake  to  mention  them  all. 
It  merely  suggests  the  reasons  why  Hunting- 
tonians  can  with  real  pride  invite  the  outside  world 
to  look  in  upon  them  and  see  what  has  been  done 
with  the  advantages  at  hand. 


11 M akin  Land" 


"  Huntingdon  " 

A POST-TOWN  of  New-York;  situated  in  Suffolk  C, 
Long  Island,  at  the  bottom  of  Brandon  harbour,  which  sets 
S.  by  E.  from  the  Sound.  It  contains  about  jo  dwellings, 
a  Presbyterian  and  an  Episcopal  church,  but  the  latter  has  no  settled 
minister.  It  is  38  miles  E.  by  N.  of  New-York,  and  133  from 
Philadelphia." — From  Scott's  U.  S.  Gazetteer,  Philadelphia,  Decem- 
ber 1st, 

The  Author  says  :  "  Mileage  obligingly  furnished  by  Mr.  Patton  of  the  Post-Office. " 


BOUTON'S  POINT-SEPARATING  HUNTINGTON  AND  LLOYD  HARBORS 


In  the  Beginning 


THERE  is  in  the  archives  at  Hague,  Hol- 
land, a  report ;  a  letter  of  information,  by 
Secretary  Van  Tienhoven,  to  the  States 
General  of  the  United  Netherlands, 
dated  March  4,  1650.  He  describes  an  expedition 
through  Long  Island  Sound,  speaks  of  various 
bays  and  harbors,  more  especially  of  Oyster  Bay. 
Then  he  refers  to  a  bay  which  he  calls  Martinne- 
honck,  as  follows :  "  This  bay  is  much  deeper  and 
wider  than  Oyster  Bay,  and  runs  westward  in, 
divides  into  three  rivers,  two  of  which  are  naviga- 
ble ;  the  smallest  stream  runs  up  in  front  of  the 
Indian  village  called  Martinnehonck,  where  they 
have  their  plantations.  This  tribe  is  not  strong, 
and  consists  of  about  thirty  families.  There  were 
formerly  in  and  about  this  bay  great  numbers  of 
Indian  plantations  which  now  lie  waste  and 
vacant.  This  land  is  mostly  level  and  of  good 
quality,  well  adapted  for  grain  and  all  sorts  of 
cattle  ;  on  the  rivers  are  numerous  valleys  of  sweet 
and  salt  meadows.  All  sorts  of  fish  are  caught 
there." 


Such  is  apparently  the  first  written  report  of 
the  region  about  Huntington  Bay.  It  is  worthy 
of  note  here  that  it  was  the  custom  of  the  early 
Dutch  navigators  to  call  harbors  running  far  in- 
land rivers  regardless  of  whether  the  water  was 
salt  or  fresh.  Coldspring  Harbor  was  called 
"  Machaquetack  River,"  etc. 

The  country  about  Huntington  Bay  was  in- 
habited by  the  Matinecock  Indians,  hence  the 
name  used  by  the  Dutch :  Martinne-honck. 

The  town  of  Huntington  was  settled  in  1653 — 
250  years  ago.  The  settlers  were  Englishmen, 
though  nearly  all  had  lived  some  years  in  New 
England,  the  Bahamas,  and  many  of  them  also  in 
towns  on  Long  Island.  All  had  left  England 
within  twenty  years  preceding  their  arrival  at 
Huntington. 

Huntington  township  was  occupied  by  three 
tribes  of  Indians.  The  Matinicocks  occupied 
the  north  shore  of  Long  Island  from  Nissequogue 
(now  Smithtown)  River  on  the  east  to  Scouts  or 
Cow  Bay  in  Hempstead,  now  North  Hempstead, 


HOME  OF  JOHN  WOOD,  "  HUNTER,"  ONE  OK  THE  ORIGINAL  SETTLER 


on  the  west.  The  Massapeague  tribe  inhabited  the 
southwest  part  of  the  town  and  adjoining  terri- 
tory on  the  west.  The  Secatoguc  tribe  held 
land  east  of  these  through  to  the  eastern  part 
of  Islip. 

The  first  purchase  of  land  was  made  by  three 
of  the  inhabitants  of  Oyster  Bay  from  "  '  Rascokan 
Sagamore  of  the  Matinnicocks,  of  the  one  part ; 
and  Richard  Houlbrock,  Robart  Williams,  and 
Daniel  Whitehead,  their  heirs  or  assigns,  certain 
quantitie  of  land  lying  and  being  upon  Long 
Island,  bounded  upon  the  west  side  with  a  river 
commonly  called  by  the  Indians  Machaquetack, 
on  the  north  side  by  the  sea  and  going  eastward 
to  a  river  called  Opcatkowtycke,  on  the  south  side 
to  the  utmost  part  of  my  bounds ;  promising,  and 
by  virtue  hereof  I  do  promise  to  free  the  above 
said  lands  from  all  title  off  and  claim  that  shall 
be  made  unto  it  by  reason  of  any  former  act ;  in 
consideration  of  which  land  the  aforesaid  Richard 
Houlbrock,  Robart  Williams,  and  Daniel  White- 
head doth  promise  unto  the  said  Rascokon  as 
followeth :  6  coats,  6  kettles,  6  hatchets,  6  howes, 
(hose),  6  shirts,  io  knives,  6  fathom  of  wampum, 


30  muxes  (small  brad  awls),  30  needles  ;  further 
the  said  sachem  doth  promise  to  go,  or  send  some 
one,  in  twenty  days  to  show  and  mark  out  the 
bounds,  and  in  case  it  prove  not  according  to  ex- 
pectation then  this  writing  to  be  voyde  and  of 
none  efectt,  but  in  case  it  be,  then  this  writing  to 
stand  in  full  force,  power  and  virtue. 

"  '  Witness  our  hands  the  2th  of  Aprill,  1653. 

The  mark  of 
Richard  +  Houlbrock 
Robart  +  Williams 
Daniel  +  Whithead 

"  '  The  mark  + 

of  the  Sagamore 

the  mark  +  of  Hewoikes 

the  mark  +  of  Muhama 

the  mark  +  of  Syhar.' 

"  The  marks  of  20  other 

Indians  are  given. 

"  On  the  same  day  that  this  deed  was  given  by 
the  Indians  to  the  Oyster  Bay  men  named  in  it  as 
grantees,  the  latter  assigned  all  their  interest  in 
the  premises  to  certain  residents  of  Huntington, 


who  became  the  proprietors  and  they  and  their 
descendants,  or  assigns,  were  ever  after  called  the 
proprietors  of  the  first  or  '  old  '  purchase.  This 
tract  from  Coldspring  Harbor  to  a  brook  running 
into  Northport  Harbor  and  from  the  Sound  to 
about  the  old  country  road  is  about  six  miles 
square. 

"  The  first  settlers  of  Huntington  were  a  body 
of  men,  equally  distinguished  for  the  soundness  of 
their  morals  and  the  purity  of  their  lives.  They 
were  characterized  by  peculiar  sternness  of  prin- 
ciple, and  singular  exactness  in  the  discharge  of 
every  duty.  They  looked  on  every  species  of  vice 
with  a  kind  of  instinctive  abhorrence. 

"  They  brought  to  this  country  an  unconquer- 
able repugnance  to  arbitrary  rule. 

"  Among  the  earliest  settlers  are  the  names  of 
Tames  Chichester,  John  Conklin  and  his  son 
Timothy,  Robert  Cranfield,  Jeffrey  Este,  Isaac  and 
Epenetus  Piatt,  Jonathon  Porter,  John  Sammis, 
Thomas  Scudder  and  his  brother  Henry, 
Thomas  Skidmore,  John  Smith,  John  Strickland, 
John  Teed,  Abiel,  John,  Samuel,  and  Content 
Titus,  brothers ;  Joseph  Whitman,  Thomas  Wicks. 


"  Jonas  Wood,  of  Halifax,  came  in  1654,  and 
the  next  year  his  father  Edman.  Edman  Wood 
was  an  old  man  and  soon  died.  Jonas  Wood,  of 
Halifax,  was  drowned  in  crossing  the  Peconic 
River,  probably  in  the  last  part  of  the  year  1663. 
Jonas  Wood,  of  Oram,  was  called  also  Justice 
Wood  because  he  was  justice  of  the  peace.  Tim- 
othy Wood  died  in  Huntington  in  1659. 

"  Wm.  Rogers  arrived  early  with  Jonas  Wood 
and  Thomas  Wilkes  (Wicks).  He  made  the  east- 
ern purchase — '  from  Cows  Harbor  brocke  to 
Mesaqnock  River  —in  1656. 

"  Jonathon  Rogers,  son  of  William  Rogers,  ap- 
pears in  the  records  about  the  same  time. 

"  Rev.  William  Leverick  was  the  first  minister, 
taking  charge  in  1657-58.  The  minister  was 
called  by  the  town  and  paid  by  the  town.  The 
first  church  was  built  by  the  town  and,  when  the 
population  outgrew  it,  it  was  enlarged  pursuant 
to  a  vote  in  town  meeting.  A  committee  was  ap- 
pointed to  see  that  the  work  was  done  and  a  '  rate  ' 
was  laid  for  it. 

"  Thomas  Fleet  came  before  1660.  He  was  a 
large  land  owner  and  vessel  owner  later. 


WEST  NECK—  OVERLOOKING  THE  BAY  AND  TRIBUTARIES 


"  Thomas  Matthew  s  was  probably  the  first  mer- 
chant. He  located  on  the  east  side  of  Huntington 
Harbor  before  1660. 

"  Stephen  Jarvis  came  from  Southold  and  set- 
tled as  early  as  1658  on  East  Neck. 

"  Thomas  Brush  came  from  Southold  to  Hunt- 
ington in  1656-57.  He  died  soon  after  1670  and  left 
children,  Thomas,  Richard,  John,  and  Rebecca, 
who  all  remained  in  Huntington. 

"  John  Cory  came  from  Southold  about  1659; 
was  town  clerk  in  1664  and  later. 


"  John  Ketcham  held  many  official  positions. 

"  Henry  Whitney  was  in  Huntington  among  the 
first  settlers. 

"  Robert  Williams  was  a  Welchman  and  a  man 
of  intelligence. 

"  Jonas  Holdsworth  was  the  first  school  teacher 
so  far  as  known. 

"  One  of  the  first  things  the  people  of  Hunting- 
ton did  was  to  establish  a  school  and  it  was  prac- 
tically a  '  free  school  '  to  those  residing  within  the 
town  limits." 


PRIMITIVE  CONDITION'S  ALONG  THE  BROOKS  OF  COLDSPRING  HARBOR 


In  Colonial  Days 


HUNTINGTON'S  first  settlers  were  fully 
as  migratory  as  their  descendants.  Many 
of  the  prominent  settlers  had  lived  in  two 
or  three  places  in  New  England,  some  in 
four,  and  in  a  town  or  two  on  Long  Island  before 
coming  to  Huntington.  Lists  of  those  living  here 
only  a  few  years  after  the  settlement  do  not  con- 
tain all  the  names  of  those  who  came  and  lived  for 
a  time. 

As  a  rule  the  Indians  were  justly  dealt  with  by 
the  first  settlers  and  there  were  few  difficulties 
between  the  whites  and  the  Indians.  Though  the 
Indians  had  given  deeds  of  the  lands  they  had 
reserved  the  right  to  hunt,  so  that  they  continued 
to  dwell  in  their  old  wigwams  and  mingled  more  or 
less  with  the  whites.    They  were  peaceful. 

It  is  presumed  that  many  of  the  settlers  came  by 
water,  landing  at  Huntington  Harbor.  The  lands 
around  the  harbor  and  immediately  south  of  it 
were  first  settled.  Along  the  highway  leading 
south  from  the  east  side  of  the  harbor  lived 
Thomas  Scudder,  Richard  Higbie,  John  Betts, 


James  Chichester,  Robert  Cranfield,  Nathaniel 
Foster,  Stephen  Jarvis,  Thomas  Powell,  Isaac 
Piatt,  Thomas  Weeks,  Jonas  Wood,  Thomas 
Whitson,  Henry  Whitney,  Richard  Bryant,  and 
Thomas  Scidmore.  Down  East  Neck  were, 
among  others,  Henry  Scudder,  Jeffrey  and  Isaac 
Esty,  Mark  Meggs,  Thomas  Fleet,  John  Jones, 
Thomas  Joanes,  and  John  Finch.  At  West  Neck, 
John  Sammis,  Jonas  Brush,  John  Corey,  Timothy 
and  John  Conklin,  Abial  and  probably  John  and 
Henry  also  Edward  Titus,  John  Teed,  Richard 
Williams,  Timothy  Wood,  and  others  were  build- 
ing themselves  homes.  It  seems  impossible  to 
locate  William  or  Jonathon  Rogers.  Many  of 
their  descendants  were  in  the  east  part  of  the  town. 
William  Rogers  was,  as  we  have  seen,  one  of  the 
purchasers  of  the  "  East  Purchase  "  and  he  and 
others  had  one  of  the  ten  farms  into  which  it  was 
divided.  Jonathon  Rogers  built  a  saw  mill  at 
Coldspring  and  in  1691  had  a  grant  to  build  a  grist 
mill  there  and  was  given  the  iron  and  mill  stones 
of  the  old  mill. 


HEAD  WATERS  OF  THE  HARBOR  AND  THE  HILLS  OF  CENTREPORT 


The  settlers  early  secured  the  services  of  a 
minister,  the  Rev.  William  Leverich,  about  1658. 
He  remained  until  1669  when  he  removed  to  New- 
town, Long  Island. 

Town  meetings  in  the  early  period  were  held 
at  various  times  when  any  business  needed  atten- 
tion and  all  business  was  attended  to  at  the  town 
meeting.  Grants  of  land  were  made ;  contracts 
were  made  for  the  erection  of  mills,  the  contract 
with  the  schoolmaster,  etc.,  all  were  made  at  town 
meeting.  As  the  population  increased  it  was  not 
convenient  for  the  whole  number  of  citizens  to 
meet  two,  three,  four  or  more  times  a  year,  so  in 
1667  a  constable  and  four  overseers  were  chosen, 
and  after  that  time  one  finds  "  Orders  made  by 
Constable  and  Townsmen.''  One  order  related  to 
firmg  the  woods  ;  another  "  Ordered  that  every 
man  having  sufficient  warning  to  attend  a  town 
meeting  shall  come  to  the  place  appoynted  at  the 
time  appoynted :  and  for  neglect  herein  they  shall 
pay  as  followeth,  for  not  coming  at  the  ower  six 
pence,  for  not  coming  at  all  three  shillings,  and  for 
goeing  away  without  Leave  from  the  Company 
twel  pence,  and  on  them  that  is  found  Delinquent 


and  Denies  to  pay  it  shall  be  taken  by  Destres 
forth  with." 

In  1666  there  were  57  freeholders  and  heads  of 
families,  which  in  1684  increased  to  84.  A  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  enquire  as  to  those  who 
proposed  to  settle  in  the  town  and  none  were  ad- 
mitted unless  approved  by  the  committee. 

As  Mr.  Leverich  had  left,  the  town  voted  "  that 
the  Constable  and  Overseers  should  do  what  they 
could  toward  procuring  a  minister  and  what  they 
did  or  procured  to  be  done  herein  the  town  would 
rest  satisfied;  and- so  left  it  wholly  to  their  dis- 
posing." 

The  men  able  to  bear  arms  were  enlisted  in 
companies  under  officers  chosen  by  themselves, 
and  "  training  "  was  an  early  institution  in  Hunt- 
ington. 

Laws  were  made  requiring  every  man  to  pro- 
vide himself  with  arms  and  ammunition  for  the  de- 
fense of  the  settlement,  for  the  division  of  lands, 
enclosing  of  fields,  regulation  of  highways  and 
watering  places,  for  the  destruction  of  w''d  beasts, 
collection  of  taxes,  establishment  and  support  of  a 
school,   for  the  prevention  and  punishment  of 


INTERESTING  SHORE  LINE  OF  LLOYD  HARBOR— SCENE  OK  MANY  SKIRMISHES  IN  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  PERIOD 


crime,  the  preservation  of  good  morals,  the  sup- 
port of  a  minister.  Mechanics  were  invited,  and 
induced  to  locate  in  the  town  by  gifts  of  land,  and 
promise  of  support. 

Ananias  Carle,  of  Hempstead,  was  induced  to 
settle  in  the  town  by  a  gift  of  a  large  farm  in  Dix 
Hills  as  he  was  a  military  man,  and  the  people 
needed  an  officer  to  command  their  local  militia 
efficiently  for  protection  against  the  Dutch. 

The  Rev.  Eliphalet  Jones  remained  with  this 
people  fifty-four  years  until  his  death,  aged  91,  but 
in  1 719  the  Rev.  Ebenezer  Prime  was  employed  as 
his  assistant,  and  in  1723  he  was  ordained  and  in- 
stalled as  a  colleague  pastor. 

The  early  Huntingtonians  were  very  strict  in  the 
observance  of  the  Sabbath,  and  punished  any  in- 
hal  itant  for  desecrating  the  day. 

The  women  at  the  close  of  the  seventeenth,  and 
even  of  the  eighteenth  century,  carried  heated 
stones  or  bricks  to  church  in  their  muffs  and  the 
men  at  church  put  their  feet  in  fur  bags  or  mocca- 
sins, with  which  many  seats  were  provided.  At 
a  late  date  foot  stoves  were  used.  Swords  were 
customarily  worn,  when  in  full  dress,  by  persons 


both  in  a  civil  and  military  capacity.  Hats  were 
made  with  broad  brims  and  steeple  crowns.  The 
coats  were  made  with  a  long,  straight  body,  falling 
below  the  knees,  with  no  collar,  or  a  very  low  one, 
so  that  the  stock  or  neck  cloth,  of  spotless  linen, 
fastened  behind  with  a  silver  buckle,  was  fully  dis- 
played. Red  woolen  stockings  were  much  ad- 
mired. 

Richard  Nichols,  the  first  Colonial  Governor, 
convened  a  meeting  of  two  Deputies  from  every 
town  on  Long  Island,  at  Hempstead,  on  the  1st  of 
March,  1665.  The  Deputies  from  the  town  of 
Huntington  were  Jonas  Wood  and  John  Ketcham. 
The  "  Duke's  Laws  "  were  enacted  and  put  in  force 
at  this  meeting.  The  Deputies  signed  a  very  ful- 
some address  to  the  Duke  of  York,  pledging 
loyalty  as  his  faithful  subjects,  which  did  not  meet 
with  the  approval  of  their  constituents, and  on  their 
return  to  their  homes  they  were  handled  without 
gloves  by  the  people,  and  insulted  in  various  ways. 

Governor  Nichols  insisted  that  the  town  should 
take  out  a  patent  from  him.  This  is  dated  No- 
vember 30,  1666. 

The  subsequent  patents  from  Governor  Dongan 


LOW  TIDE  AT  THE  HEAD  OF  NORTH  I'ORT  HARBOR 


and  Governor  Fletcher  were  very  similar,  differing 
in  some  minor  points,  but  not  in  the  vital  grant. 
It  seemed  necessary  to  have  a  new  patent  because 
the  governor  had  a  good  fee  for  granting  a  new 
patent. 

In  1723,  June  5,  when  Rev.  Ebenezer  Prime 
was  ordained,  there  were  41  members  of  the 
church,  14  men  and  27  women.  Air.  Jones,  the 
pastor,  is  added  to  the  men,  making  15. 

The  original  church  was  enlarged  once.  It 
stood  fifty  years,  till  1715.  The  first  church  was  in 
the  valley  west  of  the  present  edifice.  The  exact 
position  is  unknown,  but  it  was  beside  Meeting 
House  Brook.  The  second  church  stood  where 
the  present  one  stands.  When  the  British  occu- 
pied Huntington  they  drove  the  pastor  from  his 
hoi  se,  put  horses  in  his  stable,  bedded  them  with 
his  unthreshed  wheat,  destroyed  some  of  his 
books,  tore  leaves  out  of  others  to  spoil  them 
without  taking  the  trouble  to  destroy  the  whole 
book,  destroyed  one  volume  of  a  set  to  ruin  the 
work,  etc.  They  tore  out  the  seats  of  the  church 
for  firewood,  used  the  church  as  a  storehouse, 
afterward  as  a  riding  school,  finally  as  a  stable. 


At  last  in  November,  1782,  more  than  a  year  after 
the  surrender  of  Cornwallis,  Colonel  Thompson, 
the  commander  of  the  garrison  here  at  that  time, 
ordered  the  church  torn  down  and  used  the  lumber 
in  building  Fort  Golgotha.  The  present  building 
was  erected  on  the  same  site  in  1783. 

The  church  was  at  first  Congregational,  it  be- 
came Presbyteiian  in  1748,  but  elders  were  first 
elected  in  1754. 

The  only  other  denomination  to  come  before  the 
Revolution  was  the  Episcopal,  which  erected  a 
church  in  1750.  Other  denominations  have  since 
built  churches  in  the  town. 

A  small  church  edifice  was  erected  on  the  south 
side  about  1730.  There  was  probably  no  church 
organization  then.  The  building  was  used  occa- 
sionally until  1778,  when  the  British  tore  it  down 
and  removed  the  lumber  to  Hempstead  to  build 
barracks.  When  it  was  rebuilt  after  the  war  a 
Presbyterian  Church  was  organized. 

At  an  early  period  a  grist  mill  and  a  saw  mill 
were  erected  on  a  stream  called  Ireland's  Brook- 
in  Amityville. 

As  early  as  June  21,  1774,  Hunting-ton,  at  a  town 


SALT  MEADOWS  AND  HARBOR— FROM  GRIST  MILL  DAM,  COLDSPRING  HARBOR 


meeting-,  put  forth  her  declaration  of  rights  as 
follows : 

ist. — That  every  freeman's  property  is  abso- 
lutely his  own,  and  no  man  has  a  right  to  take  it 
from  him  without  his  consent,  expressed  either  by 
himself  or  his  representatives. 

"  2d. — That  therefore  all  taxes  and  duties  im- 
posed on  His  Majesty's  subjects  in  the  American 
Colonies  by  the  authority  of  Parliament  are  wholly 
unconstitutional  and  a  plain  violation  of  the  most 
essential  rights  of  British  subjects. 

"  3d. — That  the  act  of  Parliament  for  shutting 
up  the  port  of  Boston,  or  any  other  means  *  * 
under  color  of  law  to  compel  them  or  any  other  of 
His  Majesty's  American  subjects  to  submit  to  Par- 
liamentary taxation,  are  subversive  of  their  just 
and-  constitutional  liberty. 

"  4th. — We  are  of  opinion  that  our  brethern  of 
Boston  are  suffering  in  the  common  cause  of  Brit- 
ish America. 

"  5th. — That  it  is  the  indispensable  duty  of  all 
colonies  to  unite  in  some  effectual  measure  for  the 
repeal  of  said  act,  and  every  other  act  of  Parliament 
whereby  they  are  taxed  for  raising  a  revenue. 


"  6th. — That  in  our  opinion  the  most  effectual 
means  to  this  end  is  to  break  off  all  commercial 
intercourse  with  Great  Britain,  Ireland,  and  the 
British  West  India  Colonies. 

"  7th. — And  we  declare  ourselves  ready  to  enter 
into  these  or  such  other  measures  as  shall  be 
agreed  upon  by  a  general  congress  of  all  the  colo- 
nies   *    *  *. 

"And,  lastly,  we  appoint  Col.  Piatt  Conklin, 
John  Sloss  Hobart,  Esq.,  and  Thomas  Wickes,  a 
committee  of  this  town  to  act  in  conjunction  with 
the  committees  of  other  towns  in  the  county,  to 
correspond  with  the  committee  of  New  York." 

As  it  became  evident  that  the  British  govern- 
ment intended  to  coerce  the  colonies  into  submis- 
sion military  organizations  sprung  up  everywhere. 
Of  the  ist  or  Western  Regiment  of  Suffolk 
County,  Gilbert  Potter,  of  this  tovvn,  was  lieu- 
tenant colonel.  Three  companies  were  raised  in 
Huntington  at  first  and  later  two  more,  and  Jesse 
Brush  was  a  major  in  the  regiment. 

They  were  about  to  join  the  American  army 
when  the  disastrous  battle  of  Long  Island  caused 
them  to  disband. 


IHK  BOUNDARY 


HUNTINGTON  SOUTH  " — OLD  OCEAN  OKF  BABYLON 


"Huntington  South 


THE  portion  of  the  original  township  of 
Huntington  which  is  now  included  in  the 
town  of  Babylon  was  formerly  called 
"  Huntington  South,"  and  while  nearly 
the  entire  population  of  this  section  was  favorable 
to  the  cause  of  independence,  there  were  a  few 
who  refused  to  aid  in  what  they  regarded  as  a 
rebellion  against  the  constituted  government. 
Among  this  small  minority  was  one  Arthur  Din- 
gee.  He  owned  a  large  tract  of  land,  a  part  of 
which  is  now  embraced  in  the  present  incorporated 
village  of  Babylon.  The  tract  lay  on  both  sides  of 
the  Snmpawams  road,  extending  from  the  present 
Railroad  Avenue  north  to  the  nursery  of  Prince 
H.  Foster.  Mr.  Dingee  appears  to  have  been  a 
decided  loyalist,  and  doubtless  acted  in  accordance 
with  his  convictions. 

After  the  occupation  of  Long  Island  by  the  Bri- 
tish troops  he  served  as  captain  of  militia,  having 
superseded  the  captain  commissioned  under  the 
Colonial  government — probably  Captain  Piatt. 
There  is  evidence  that  Captain  Dingee  assisted 


with  his  men  as  an  officer  in  the  British  service  in 
1776  and  1777,  in  the  work  of  constructing  a  fort 
at  Lloyd  Xeck.  On  August  19,  1779,  General 
Delancy  issued  an  order  to  Captain  Dingee  to  have 
two  hundred  and  ten  men  of  the  Suffolk  County 
militia  parade  with  their  blankets,  on  Monday, 
August  23,  1779,  to  be  employed  in  repairing  and 
constructing  the  fort  at  Brooklyn,  and  to  cut,  hew, 
and  transport  seventy-five  thousand  pieces  of  tim- 
ber, pickets,  fascines,- etc.,  to  be  used  in  the  work. 
To  this  order  Captain  Dingee  returned  answer  that 
it  was  impossible.  ( )bviously  it  was  a  difficult 
order  to  enforce.  At  that  time  the  loyalists  (called 
Tories)  complained  that  the  patriots  (rebels)  of  the 
town  of  Huntington  were  very  insolent  and  were 
only  restrained  by  the  presence  of  Royal  troops. 
Upon  the  receipt  of  Captain  Dingee's  letter  Gen- 
eral Delancy  issued  a  more  positive  order  contain- 
ing the  following : 

"  If  the  requisition  of  men  and  material  tor  the 
purpose  before  mentioned  is  not  immediately  com- 
plied with  a  detachment  of  troops  will  be  sent  into 


ONE  OF  AMl'l YVILLE'S  OLD  HOMESTEADS 


that  district,  and  every  person  who  shall  refuse  to 
contribute  his  assistance  toward  a  work  in  which 
the  King's  services  and  the  interest  of  the  loyal 
inhabitants  are  so  blended,  shall  be  turned,  with- 
out distinction,  out  of  Long  Island,  and  their  farms 
will  be  allotted  for  the  support  of  those  who  have 
suffered  for  real  attachment  to  government." 

Of  course  further  resistance  to  the  order  was 
useless,  and  it  was  generally  complied  with.  Gov- 
ernor Tryon  also,  in  like  manner,  many  times  gave 
orders  to  captains  of  the  militia  of  Huntington 
town  to  hive  cut,  and  sent  to  New  York  City, 
large  quantities  of  wood  for  the  use  of  the  British 
troops. 

About  the  year  1783,  the  Legislature  of  the 
State  of  New  York  enacted  the  so-called  "tresspass 
act  '  by  which  suits  could  be  brought  against  all 
persons  acting  under  British  authority  who  had 
impressed  horses,  cattle,  men,  wagons,  or  wood 
belonging  to  patriotic  owners.      The  law  made 


those  British  agents  personally  liable  for  acts 
which,  in  many  instances,  they  could  not  avoid  do- 
ing. Besides,  those  involuntary  "  tresspassers  " 
could  be  tried  in  a  county  in  which  they  did  not 
reside.  The  year  1783  was  the  year  that  tried  the 
souls  of  the  loyalists,  as  the  years  immediately 
preceding  had  tried  the  souls  of  patriots.  Mr. 
Dingee,  realizing  that  the  enforcement  of  the  tres- 
pass act  would  deprive  him  of  all  his  property,  exe- 
cuted to  his  son  Selah  a  warranty  deed  for  all  real, 
and  a  bill  of  sale  for  all  his  personal  property ;  and 
Hed  to  St.  John,  Nova  Scotia  (now  New  Bruns- 
wick'). In  1792  he  returned  to  his  home  on 
Long  Island.  Mr.  Dingee  had  spent  about  eight 
years  in  exile,  and  during  that  time  the  enmity  to 
the  loyalists  had  softened  to  such  a  degree  that  he 
could  dwell  at  his  old  home  on  terms  of  friendship 
with  his  neighbors.  Mr.  Dingee  lived  a  number  of 
vears  after  his  return,  and  was  a  liberal  contribu- 
tor to  the  support  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 


I  OKI   KKASKIJN.  I.I.OYI)  N  ECK— AN.  IMPORTANT  BRITISH  OUTPOST  IN  REVOLUTIONARY  TIMES 


Fortifications  in  Huntington 


HUNTINGTON  was  the  scene  of  active 
operations  in  the  colonial  period.  Both 
the  British  and  the  Continental  forces 
considered  this  section  of  sufficient  im- 
portance to  warrant  attention.    The  British  had 
several  forts  within  the  township,  the  most  impor- 
tant of  which  was  Fort  Golgotha. 

In  the  fall  of  1782  the  crowning  outrage  to  the 
feelings  of  the  patriots  in  Huntington  was  com- 
mitted by  Colonel  Benjamin  Thompson,  a  Massa- 
chusetts Tory  who  was  stationed  here  with  six 
hundred  men.  Already  the  old  First  Presbyterian 
Church  had  been  torn  down  and  now,  although 
the  articles  of  peace  had  been  drawn  up.  Colonel 
Thompson  ordered  the  beams,  timber,  and  planks 
to  be  used  in  the  construction  of  a  fort  in  the 
center  of  the  village.  This  he  named  Fort  Gol- 
gotha. 

The  spot  honored  on  July  4,  1903,  by  the  raising 
of  Old  Glory  has  been  desecrated  by  the  tread  of 
hundreds  of  Tory  feet.  It  was  this  place  Colonel 
Thompson  chose  as  fitting  for  his  fort  and  one 


which  would  cause  most  humiliation  to  the  inhabi- 
tants. On  the  top  of  this  hill  one  hundred  grave 
stones  were  leveled  and  the  old  residents  were  set 
to  work  digging  the  ditch.  An  earthwork  was 
thrown  up  six  feet  high  around  the  fort,  which  was 
two  acres  in  extent.  It  faced  the  north  and  was 
five  rods  wide  with  a  gate  in  the  middle.  Colonel 
Thompson  erected  his  own  marquee  close  to  the 
grave  of  the  Rev.  Ebenezer  Prime,  a  brave  and 
especially  active  patriot,  in  order  that  he  might 
"  tread  on  the  old  rebel  whenever  he  went  in  or 
out." 

Using  the  earthwork  for  one  side,  the  soldiers 
constructed  their  barracks  of  the  timber  brought 
from  the  First  Church  and  the  buildings  in  the 
vicinity  which  had  been  torn  down.  The  tomb- 
stones were  used  as  tables  and  ovens,  and  it  is  said 
that  many  of  the  people  saw  the  reversed  inscrip- 
tion from  the  stones  erected  to  the  memory  of 
their  friends  on  the  bread  which  the  British  ate. 
Some  of  the  gravestones  were  carted  as  far  as 
West  Hills  by  relatives  of  the  dead  and  there 


ALL  THAT  REMAINS  OF  WEST  HILLS  STONE  BLOCK  HOUSE,  ERECTED  AS  A  PROTECTION  AGAINST 

INDIANS 


hidden  until  the  destruction  of  the  fort,  after  which 
they  were  returned  to  the  old  cemetery. 

As  the  war  was  practically  over  before  the  erec- 
tion of  Fort  Golgotha,  it  saw  no  active  service.  In 
1784,  after  its  evacuation  by  the  British,  it  was. 
leveled  by  the  people  and  the  material  sold  at 
auction.  With  the  proceeds  a  fence  was  erected 
around  the  parsonage. 

For  protection  against  attack  by  water  there 
were  two  forts  on  Lloyd  Neck,  one  which  com- 
manded the  waters  at  the  east  side  of  the  neck,  and 
Fort  Franklin,  on  the  summit  of  the  high  bluff 
overlooking  Coldspring  Harbor.  Another  fortifi- 
cation was  close  by  the  main  road,  on  the  summit 
of  Gallows  Hill,  later  called  Fort  Hill,  east  of  the 
village.  There  were  some  defenses  of  minor  im- 
portance in  the  central  section  of  the  township. 
The  remains  of  one  of  these  is  still  shown  on  the 
Place  farm  at  West  Hills. 

Fort  Franklin  was  situated  upon  the  high 
ground  at  the  west  side  of  Lloyd  Neck  near  to  the 


west  end  of  Lloyd  Harbor.  It  was  a  most  im- 
portant point  in  the  days  of  British  occupation. 
A  strong  force  of  His  Majesty's  men  were  in 
charge  and  with  this  as  a  base  raids  were  made 
upon  the  surrounding  region.  Vast  quantities  of 
timber  and  cordwood  were  felled  and  the  natural 
resources  of  this  rich  country  were  sadly  depleted. 
Fort  Franklin,  with  its  companion  earthworks  on 
the  east  side  of  Lloyd  Neck,  at  a  point  command- 
ing Huntington  Bay  and  its  tributaries,  offered 
protection  for  British  ships  which,  to  a  consider- 
able number,  were  .anchored  for  varying  periods 
in  Huntington  and  Oyster  Bays. 

Colonial  forces  from  Connecticut  planned  and 
attempted  numerous  attacks  on  these  Lloyd  Neck 
defenses  and  there  were  some  lively  actions.  The 
fact  that  cannonball  and  heavy  shot  have  been 
found  at  numerous  points  on  Lloyd  and  West 
Necks  gives  mute  evidence  of  the  genuineness  of 
the  family  traditions  which  have  been  handed 
down,  telling  of  fierce  engagements  in  this  region. 


NORTHPORT  FROM  THE  WESTWARD— SPY  HILL 


Geography 


THE  territory  embraced  in  the  first  town- 
ship of  Huntington,  situated  thirty  to 
forty  miles  from  New  York  City,  included 
a  strip  across  Long  Island,  from  the 
Sound  to  the  Ocean.  The  township  of  Babylon 
has  since  been  formed  from  the  southern  part  of 
the  area.  Hence  the  two  towns  are  jointly  inter- 
ested in  the  celebration  of  the  250th  anniver- 
sary of  the  settlement.  The  geographical  situation 
includes  a  great  variety  of  country.  North  of  the 
middle  section  is  a  range  of  hills,  one  of  which  rises 
to  the  highest  point  on  Long  Island.  Jayne's 
Hill  has  an  elevation  of  421  feet,  according  to  a 
U.  S.  government  survey.  From  several  of  the 
hill  tops  one  can  see  Long  Island  Sound  on  one 
side  and  the  Atlantic  Ocean  on  the  other.  The 
northern  half  of  the  section  is  hilly,  the  southern 
part  almost  flat.  There  are  numerous  attractive 
streams  and  lakes  of  exceptionally  clear  water. 
Many  of  the  hills  are  heavily  wooded  and  the  fields 
are  fertile.    The  harbors  and  bays  prove  wonder- 


fully pleasing,  affording  delightful  facilities  for 
boating,  bathing,  fishing,  and  all  the  salt  water 
recreations. 

On  the  north  side  of  the  region  are  the  villages 
of  Coldspring  Harbor,  Huntington,  Centreport, 
and  Northport,  each  with  a  frontage  on  salt  water. 
Further  south  are  Fair  Ground,  West  Hills,  Lark- 
field,  Long  Swamp,  Dix  Hills,  Commack,  Elwood, 
Melville,  Wyandance,  Deer  Park,  and  Half  Hollow 
Hills.  Still  further  south  are  Pinclawn,  Amityville, 
Lindenhurst,  and  Babylon. 

The  characteristics  of  the  country  in  the  earliest 
days  of  occupation  by  English-speaking  people 
were  such  as  to  make  it  a  self-supporting  country. 
The  colonists  were  thus  enabled  to  make  a  com- 
fortable living,  and  found  it  unnecessary  to  move 
on  as  they  had  done  from  other  places  before 
reaching  Huntington.  The  development  up  to  the 
present  time  has  been  a  gradual  and  steady  growth, 
and  there  never  was  a  time  when  Huntington's 
prospects  were  brighter  than  in  the  year  1903. 


REPRESENTATIVES  OF  THE  OLD  TIME  GARDENS 


Journalism  in 

SAMUEL   A.    SEABURY   established  the 
American  Eagle  in  182 1.    In  May,  1825,  it 
was  changed  to  Long  Island  Journal  of  Phil- 
osophy and  Cabinet  of  Variety,  published  by 
Samuel  Fleet.    The  name  was  changed  in  1827  to 
Portico. 

The  Long  Islander  was  established  in  1836  by  the 


Huntington 

poet  Walt  Whitman,  whose  home  was  at  West 
Hills.    The  name  has  never  been  changed. 

The  Suffolk  Democrat  was  established  by  Edward 
Strayhan,  a  young  man  of  ability,  who  died  soon 
afterward.  It  lias  passed  through  many  changes 
of  management,  and  is  now  called  the  Suffolk 
Bulletin. 


Captain  Kidd  Story 


THERE  is  a  story,  which  has  been  told  so 
many  times  in  Huntington  as  the  truth, 
that  it  is  firmly  believed,  to  the  effect  that 
one  of  the  members  of  the  crew  of  Cap- 
tain Kidd,  the  famous  pirate,  escaped  from  the 
pirate  vessel  in  Huntington  town,  bought  land,  and 
made  his  home  at  Half  Hollow  Hills.  The  story  is 
stoutly  denied  by  some  historians,  but  here  it  is. 
Take  it  as  gospel  truth  or  not. 

Captain  Kidd  certainly  did  visit  Huntington 
town.  He  was  here  with,  his  vessel  and  his  crew. 
It  is  alleged  that  the  little  sheet  of  water  near 
Northport,  now  known  as  Sweetwater  Lake,  was 
in  those  days  an  arm  of  Long  Island  Sound,  nav- 
igable for  large  vessels,  and  Kidd  is  said  to  have 
sought  its  shelter  as  a  retired  and  safe  anchorage. 
He  is  said  also  to  have  anchored  in  Coldspring 
Harbor.  As  the  story  goes,  it  was  when  the  Kidd 
vessel  was  anchored  there  that  Jacob  Conklin  was 
sent  ashore  to  get  a  supply  of  fresh  water.  He  is 
said  to  have  been  an  unwilling  member  of  the  crew. 
Taking  advantage  of  the  opportunity  to  get  away, 


he  ran  into  the  woods  and  made  his  way  to  the 
south.  A  large  hollow  log  is  claimed  to  have  given 
him  shelter  and  cover  from  the  prying  eyes  of  his 
pursuers.  Indeed,  it  is  alleged  that  the  crew  of  the 
ship,  who  came  out  for  him,  sat  on  the  very  log  in 
which  Conklin  was  concealed  and  made  declara- 
tions with  a  great  deal  of  emphasis  as  to  what  they 
would  do  with  him  if  they  should  succeed  in  find- 
ing the  runaway.  Night  coming  on,  they  gave  up 
the  search  and  returned  to  the  ship.  Conklin  is 
then  alleged  to  have  made  his  way  toward  the  mid- 
dle of  the  island,  following  what  is  now  known  as 
"  Rogue's  Pathway,"  thence  out  to  Half  Hollow 
Hills.  There  he  met  a  friendly  band  of  Indians 
who  gave  him  shelter. 

Conklin  liked  the  treatment  received  so  well,  and 
was  so  pleased  with  the  character  of  the  local- 
ity, that  he  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land.  The 
fine  old  homestead,  which  was  erected  on  a 
knoll,  surrounded  by  numerous  bubbling  springs, 
is  still  standing  and  in  a  good  state  of  preservation. 
The  reeion  is  now  named  Wvandance. 


WOOLEN  MILL  AT  COLDSPRING  HARBOR-THE  FIRST  IN  NEW  YORK 


Early  Industries 


EARLY  in  the  history  of  the  town  of  Hunt- 
ington there  were  manufacturing  indus- 
tries of  importance.  Grist  mills  and  saw 
mills  were  erected  at  Coldspring  Harbor, 
Huntington  Harbor,  Centreport,  and  Northport. 
There  were  some  run  by  tide  water,  others  by  the 
power  from  dammed  streams.  The  only  posi- 
tively unique  mill,  for  no  other  was  ever  made  to 
run  successfully  on  the  same  plan,  was  the  wind- 
mill erected  by  Daniel  Sammis  at  Huntington. 
The  old  mills  at  Coldspring  Harbor,  Huntington, 
and  Centreport,  still  in  use,  are  apparently  good 
for  many  more  years  of  active  service.  Genera- 
tion after  generation  of  the  farmers  of  Huntington 
township  have  had  grain  ground  at  these  mills  and 
still  the  great  wheels  turn. 

For  about  thirty  years,  from  1830  till  the  out- 
break of  the  Civil  War,  the  whaling  industry  made 
Coldspring  Harbor  a  scene  of  business  activity. 
The  Coldspring  Whaling  Company,  incorporated 
in  1830,  owned  eight  ships,  capacity  about  two  thou- 
sand five  hundred  barrels  each.  The  prosperity  of 


the  whaling  business  made  other  lines  of  industry 
essential.  There  was  a  woolen  mill  where  woolen 
goods,  blankets,  and  carpet  yarn  were  made  for 
many  years.  There  was  a  large  cooperage  shop 
just  over  the  line  in  the  next  town  which  gave  the 
locality  the  picturesque  name  Bungtown.  Here 
the  barrels  and  casks  for  holding  the  whale  oil 
were  manufactured  complete.  They  were  then 
taken  apart  and  packed  aboard  the  whale  ships,  to 
save  room,  and  to  be  set  up  when  they  were 
needed.  Shipyards  were  erected  and  vessels  were 
built  to  engage  in  the  coasting  rrade.  With  the 
close  of  the  w  haling  industry  the  other  lines  of 
business  failed  and  to-day  the  grist  mill  is  the  only 
scene  of  active  industry  connected  with  the  good 
old  times.  From  the  first  the  Jones  family  has  been 
directly  allied  with  business  interests  at  Coldspring 
Harbor.  Huntington  town  has  had  .other  inter- 
esting lines  of  industry.  At  one  time  the  place 
ranked  among  the  first  in  the  country  in  tl  ;  manu- 
facture of  silver  and  gold  thimbles.  The  Primes 
were  connected  with  this  work  many  years,  using 


STILL  WORKING 


-THE  NOTED  POTTERY  AT  HUNTINGTON  HARBOR 


the  power  from  Meeting  House  Brook  to  turn  the 
wheels. 

At  one  time  Huntington  sent  large  quantities  of 
bread  as  far  west  as  New  York  and  as  far  east  as 
Port  Jefferson.  Large  quantities  of  live  stock 
were  raised  for  the  purpose  of  supplying  the  mar- 
kets of  New  York  and  Brooklyn.  In  later  years 
shell  fisheries  have  taken  a  far  more  important 
position  commercially,  and  oysters,  clams,  and 
scallops  are  now  shipped  from  Huntington  waters 
in  great  quantities  every  year. 

The  shipment  of  screened  sand  and  gravel  from 
the  beaches  along  the  shores  of  Long  Island 
Sound  and  the  bays  has  developed  into  an  impor- 
tant source  of  revenue.  Huntington  materials 
tin.  >  form  a  valuable  part  of  the  building  materials 
in  all  the  large  cities  along  the  Atlantic  Coast. 

Very  prominent  was  the  curious  wind-mill  which 
for  many  years  was  the  most  conspicuous  building 
in  the  village,  erected  in  1825  by  Daniel  Sammis, 
near  the  Methodist  Church,  Main  Street ;  a  big 
wooden  eagle  which  surmounted  the  tall  shaft  was 
a  roughly  carved  image  and  is  still  in  existence. 
The  purpose  for  which  the  mill  was  erected  is  told 


in  this  circular  issued  the  year  after  the  mill  was 
started: 

WIND-MILL 
The  public  are  respectfully  informed, 
that  the 

Saw  Mill 

of  the  subscriber  is  now  in  operation  where  he  will 
keep  on  hand  and  for  sale,  all  kinds  of  wagon  tim- 
ber, white  oak  plank  and  boards,  ash  plank  and 
white  wood  boards, oak  lath, chestnut  rails  and  lath 
for  picket  fence,  white  walnut  plank  for  mill  cogs; 
all  kinds  of  timber  taken  for  sawing  delivered  at 

the  Mill 

He  will  keep  pine  timbers  for  piazza  columns, 
and  will  turn  them  at  the  shortest  notice ;  also,  he 
will  cut  wood  screws,  and  keep  on  hand  turned 
broom-handles,  at  two  dollars  and  fifty  cents  a 
hundred.  Daniel  Sammis, 

Huntington,  Dec,  21,  1826. 

It  became  the  favorite  playhouse  of  boys  who 
to-day  are  sedate  business  men.  Every  Saturday 
or  other  holiday,  when  there  was  breeze  enough 
to   make   the   huge   wheel   revolve,   boys  were 


HUNTINGTON  TIDE  MILLS 


found  on  the  outer  rims  or  on  the  roofs  over  the 
journals  of  the  big  upright  shaft. 

The  wheel  was  about  fifty  feet  in  diameter,  ele- 
vated at  forty  to  fifty-six  feet  according  to  position 
of  the  rider,  whether  in  the  lower  or  upper  rim. 
The  wheel  which  gave  the  power  was  suspended 
from  a  central  shaft,  seventy-two  feet  high,  built 
in  two  sections.  The  lower  part  was  of  pine, 
twenty-two  inches  in  diameter  at  the  bottom  and 
thirty-nine  feet  long.  The  upper  section  was  of 
white  oak,  thirty-three  feet  long  and  eight  inches  in 
diameter  at  the  top.  Between  the  two  rims,  which 
were  carefully  braced,  were  eighteen  sails.  They 


were  so  arranged  with  weights  attached  to  wires 
that  they  feathered  when  coming  into  the  wind  and 
filled  when  going  before  it.  They  swung  with 
sudden  jerks  and  the  boys  had  to  be  careful  in  rid- 
ing on  the  rims  to  avoid  places  where  the  sails 
would  swing. 

The  upper  part  of  the  mill  was  blown  down  in  a 
heavy  gale  about  1867  and  since  then  several 
changes  have  been  made  in  the  old  building.  It  is 
a  time-honored  structure,  however,  and  older 
Huntingtonians  will  be  glad  to  see  the  picture  of 
this  old  relic,  which  was  taken  from  an  India  ink- 
sketch  made  by  Henry  Lockwood. 


COLDSPRING  TANNERY— KOR  GENERATIONS  SOLE  MANUFACTORY  ON  DRUM-HEADS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES 


Pedagogue's  Contract 


FROM  the  earliest  times  Huntington  has 
been  loyal  to  the  cause  of  education.  Wit- 
ness the  terms  of  the  agreement  made  with 
one  John  Holdsworth,  teacher. 
The  agreement  verbatim  is  as  follows: 
"A  covenant  made  the  eleventh  day  of  ffebruary, 
1657,  at  a  corte  or  towne  meeting;  betwixt  the  in- 
habitants of  the  town  of  Huntington  of  the  one 
p'tie  ;  and  Jonas  Holdsworth  of  the  other  p'tie, 
whereby  the  said  Jonas  Holdsworth  doth  engage 
himself  to  the  said  Inhabitants  During  the  term  of 
ffoure  yearcs  ;  to  be  expired  from  the  thirteenth 
day  of  Aprill  next  ensuing  the  day  of  the  date 
hereof,  ffor  to  schoole  such  persons  or  children  as 
shall  be  put  to  him  for  yt  end  ;  by  ye  sd.  Inhabi- 
tants. And  likewise  the  sd.  Inhabitants  doth  allso 
engage  themselves  to  the  said  Jonas  Holdsworth, 
for  to  build  him  a  sufficient  house,  and  to  give  him 
with  ye  said  house,  a  persell  of  ground  ajoining  to 
it,  for  accommedation  thereunto.  And,  further- 
more, the  said  Inhabitants  doth  likewise  engage 
themselves  to  pay  unto  ye  said  Jonas  Holdsworth 


for  and  in  consideration  of  his  sd.  Schooling; 
twenty-five  pounds  (accompt)  and  his  diat  the  first 
yeare ;  and  allso  to  allow  him  what  more  may 
come  in  by  ye  schooling  of  any  that  come  from 
other  whars.  The  said  twenty-five  pounds  is  to  be 
paid  ye  sd.  Jonas,  as  folloarth :  Three  pounds, 
twentie  shillings  in  butter  at  six  pence  p.  pound, 
and  seven  pounds  two  shillings  in  good,  well-sized 
Merchantable  trading  wampum,  yt  is  well  strung 
or  steand,  or  in  such  comodities  as  will  sute  him 
for  clothing,  these" to  be  paid  him  by  ye  first  of 
October  and  three  pounds  twelve  shillings  in 
corne ;  one-halfe  in  wheat  and  the  other  indian,  at 
three  ;  and  five  shillings  p.  bushcll  (provided,  yt  it 
be  good  and  merchantable)  to  be  paid  by  the  first 
of  March,  and  ten  pounds,  fourteen  shillings  in  well 
thriving,  young  cattell,  that  shall  be  then  betwixt 
two  and  foure  years  old  (the  one  halfe  being  in  the 
stear  kind)  these  to  be  Delivered  him  when  ye 
yeare  is  expired.  And  also  the  two  next  ensuing 
years,  To  pay  the  sd.  Jonas  Holdsworth  Thirty-five 
pounds  p.  yeare  ;  with  ye  foresaid  aloance  of  what 


IN  OLDEN  TIMES,  "A  B  C"  CLASS-TO-DAY,  THE  KINDERGARTEN 


may  come  in,  by  such  as  come  from  other  places ; 
the  said  thirty-five  pounds  is  to  be  paid  as  follow- 
eth  (viz.,  five  pounds  in  butter  at  six  pence  p. 
pound,  and  ten  pounds  in  such  wampum  as  is 
above  mentioned,  or  in  such  comodities  as  will 
sute  him ;  these  all  to  be  paid  ye  first  of  October  ; 
and  five  pound  in  corne ;  by  ye  first  of  March,  the 
half  in  wheate  and  the  other  in  indian,  at  five  and 
three  shillings  p.  bushel  (so  that  it  be  good  Mer- 
chantable) and  fifteen  pounds  in  well  thriving 
young  cattel  betwixt  two  and  foure  years,  the  halfe 
being  in  ye  steare  kind ;  these  are  to  be  Delivered 
when  ye  yeare  is  expired  (being  valued  by  indif- 
ferent men)  and  the  fourth  or  last  yeare  to  pay  ye 


sd.  Jonas  Holdsworth  ffourty  pounds  in  such  pay 
as  is  above  mentioned,  according  to  the  measure 
and  quantitie  proportionally  and  at  fore  sd.  times 
of  payment. 

"Allso  it  is  agreed  of  that  firewood  bee  gotten 
and  brought  for  the  school,  when  ye  seasons  shall 
require  it,  by  such  as  send  their  children  to  school. 
And  the  said  Jonas  Holdsworth  shall  have  liberty 
for  to  chuse  ffoure  men  that  shall  be  bound  to  him 
for  the  true  performance  of  the  foresaid  engage- 
ments. 

"  A  rate  was  laid'for  the  skull  house." 
All  debts,  taxes,  and  other  obligations  were  paid 
with  commodities. 


THE  ACADEMY  OCCUPIED  THE  SITE  OF  THE  PRESENT  SCHOOL  BUILDINGS 


Educational  Record 


THE  old  academy,  which  stood  at  the  top 
of  the  hill  near  the  site  of  the  present 
schools,  is  remembered  by  older  resi- 
dents of  Huntington  to-day,  but  not 
by  the  younger  generation.  It  was  a  com- 
paratively large  building,  well  in  advance  of  the 
average  school  house.  It  had  a  reputation  that 
extended  far  and  wide.  Many  pupils  went  out 
from  it  to  take  positions  of  honor  and  reflect  credit 
upon  the  institution.  Mr.  S.  O.  Lee,  now  an  hon- 
ored resident  of  Huntington,  was  the  last  in  charge 
of  the  Academy.  When  the  Union  Free  School 
was  established  the  Academy  gave  place  to  the 
larger  and  finer  building  which  forms  a  part  of  the 


present  Grammar  and  High  School  edifices.  The 
Primary  and  Kindergarten  building  was  construct- 
ed later.  The  academy,  according  to  Mr.  Lee, 
stood  nearer  to  the  road  than  the  present  struc- 
ture and  possibly  encroached  on  what  is  now  the 
public  highway. 

To  Huntington  belongs  the  honor  of  having  or- 
ganized the  first  union  free  school  in  New  York- 
state.  This  was  done  under  a  special  act  of  the 
legislature. 

As  in  the  old  times,  so  to-day  there  is  the  keen- 
est interest  in  educational  affairs  in  Huntington, 
and  the  work  done  in  the  schools  is  a  source  of 
pride  throughout  the  township. 


Huntington's 

MANY  famous  men  have  had  their  homes 
in  Huntington.     Some  of  them  were 
natives  of  the  town.    To  mention  them 
all  would  be  to  exceed  the  scope  of  this 
publication.    Perhaps  no  Huntingtonian  achieved 
greater  renown  than  old  Silas  Wood. 

The  first  Silas  Wood  was  a  principal  agent  in 
negotiating  and  planning  for  the  settlement  in 
1653,  though  he  did  not  remove  to  West  Hills, 
where  he  settled,  until  later.  The  second  Silas 
Wood,  son  of  Joshua  Wood,  was  born  at  West 
Hills  September  14,  1769.  He  received  a  prepara- 
tory classical  education,  and,  at  sixteen,  entered 
Princeton  College,  N.  J.,  and  graduated  with 
hoi  or  and  served  for  a  time  as  tutor  in  the  col- 
lege. In  1795,  at  the  age  of  26,  he  was  elected  to 
the  legislature  from  Suffolk  County  and  served 
four  years  in  Johnstown,  New  York.  In  18 13  he 
was  made  solcitor  in  chancery  and  returned  to 
Huntington  to  practice  his  profession.  In  1817  he 
was  elected  to  Congress  and  was  re-elected  five 
successive  terms.    His  speeches  in  Congress,  on 


Famous  Men 

the  Missouri  question,  the  tariff,  commissioners  to 
Greece,  etc.,  were  all  of  eminent  ability.  While 
serving  in  Congress  he  wrote  a  history  of  Long 
Island  and  he  secured  the  establishment  of  a  semi- 
weekly  mail  service  through  Long  Island,  the  first 
to  go  east  of  Jamaica. 

He  urged  the  people  to  patronize  the  mail,  say- 
ing if  it  failed  to  pay  it  would  be  withdrawn  at  the 
end  of  a  year.  He  died  March  2,  1847,  leaving  no 
children. 

OI  CHARD  CON  KLIN  was  born  in  Coldspring 
Harbor  in  1756.  He  was  among  those  who 
took  refuge  from  the  British  in  New  England.  He 
skirmished  with  the  British  at  the  time  they  took 
Danvers  and  was  wounded  in  the  hand.  He  was  a 
prisoner  in  the  British  fleet  and  as  such  was  con- 
fined in  the  Barbadoes  jail.  At  one  time  he  was 
a  prisoner  on  the  admiral's  ship  in  New  York 
Harbor ;  he  escaped  and  made  his  wa"  to  his 
home  at  Coldspring  Harbor.  His  return  was  re- 
ported and  the  British  attacked  the  house,  firing 


through  the  barred  door,  where  he  stood  until  the 
rest  of  the  family  had  escaped  to  a  neighbor's.  He 
then  retreated  through  a  swamp  and  the  woods  to 
the  shore  where  his  vessel  lay.  During  the  War 
of  1812  he  captured  a  vessel  loaded  w  ith  grain  and 
flour  for  the  British. 

While  a  prisoner  on  the  admiral's  ship  off  Bar- 
bados, Richard  Conklin  witnessed  examples  of  the 
severity  of  English  naval  discipline.  Two  men 
were  sentenced  to  receive  a  certain  number  of 
lashes  on  board  every  ship  of  the  fleet.  When 
they  came  along  side  the  admiral's  vessel  one  man 
had  died  and  the  other  was  nearly  insensible. 

Captain  Enoch  Conklin  was  a  brother  of  Rich- 
ard Conklin.  During  the  war  of  1812  he  built  a 
privateer  called  Arroi<.\  She  carried  twenty  guns 
afid  one  hundred  and  twenty  men.  In  1814  she 
was  given  a  commission  by  the  United  States  gov- 
ernment. She  sailed  from  the  port  of  New  York 
in  September  of  that  year,  but  neither  vessel,  cap- 
tain, nor  crew  ever  returned.  Stephen  Bernard 
Conklin  was  an  officer.  Captain  Conklin  left  a 
wife  and  three  children. 

Richard  Montgomery  Conklin  was  judge  of 


county  courts.  He  was  at  one  time  captain  of  the 
Huntington  militia  company. 

/^\NE  of  the  bravest  and  most  stubborn  patriots 
of  Huntington  was  Major  Jesse  Brush.  It 
has  long  been  said  that  at  one  time  he  alone  re- 
pulsed a  party  of  British  who  attacked  his  home. 
Rather  than  take  the  oath  of  submission  he  aban- 
doned his  farm  and  became  one  of  the  terrors  to 
the  Tories  and  soldiers  stationed  in  and  about  the 
town. 

One  of  the  Tories  of  that  time  writes  : 
"  A  party  of  rebels  have  a  place  of  resort  at 
Bread  and  Cheese  Hollow,  on  a  by-road  that  leads 
from  the  houses  of  two  men  now  in  rebellion,  viz. 
Xath'l  Piatt  and  Thos.  Treadwell,  to  that  of  the 
noted  Sam'l  Phillips  near  the  Branch.  They  ex- 
tend along  the  road  from  said  Phillip's  to  the  well- 
known  Piatt  Carl's,  and  have  stopped  several  per- 
sons on  horseback  and  in  wagons  and  robbed  a 
number  of  houses  in  Smithtown  and  Islip  within 
the  last  ten  days.  They  are  said  to  be  commanded 
by  a  rebel,  Major  Brush,  formerly  of  Huntington." 
In  1780  he  was  captured  at  Smithtown  and  was 


REAR-ADMIRAL  HIRAM  PAULDING-HIS  FITTING  MEMORIAL 


held  prisoner  in  a  New  York  jail  for  one  month. 
He  was  then  liberated  through  the  efforts  of 
Henry  Scudder. 

The  Brush  homestead,  situated  on  Lloyd  Har- 
bor, a  rendezvous  for  British  and  Tories,  was  the 
scene  of  many  stirring  events.  The  name  Brush 
was  especially  hated  by  the  British  and  no  one 
bearing  that  name  was  treated  with  any  consider- 
ation. 

' J^O  &'ve  especial  prominence  to  separate  fami- 
lies in  a  publication  of  this  character  might  be 
considered  out  of  place,  but  no  mention  of  well- 
known  Huntington  families  would  be  complete 
without  reference  to  the  Lloyds,  who  owned  Lloyd 
Neck,  by  special  grant.  It  is  claimed  that  Lloyd 
Neck  is  the  only  part  of  the  town  that  was  visited 
by  royalty  in  the  days  of  English  possession. 

EW  Huntingtonians  achieved  greater  distinc- 
tion in  government  circles  than  did  Hiram 
Paulding,  Rear  Admiral,  U.  S.  N.    He  had  a  de- 
lightful home  on  the  shore  of  Lloyd  Harbor,  the 
homestead  overlooking-  Huntington  Harbor.  He 


was  very  fond  of  his  Huntington  home,  which  was 
beautifully  furnished  and  decorated  with  trophies 
from  many  countries.  He  was  a  nature  lover  and 
had  large  numbers  of  rare  trees  and  plants.  His 
simple  and  appropriate  rough  granite  monu- 
ment occupies  a  place  of  prominence  in  the  grave- 
yard, at  a  place  where  the  visitor  may  look  out 
over  the  blue  waters  which  the  Admiral  loved  so 
well,  and  on  which  he  did  noble  service  for  his 
country. 

* HE  Meade  family  has  furnished  many  officers 
to  the  Navy  Department,  both  as  naval  and 
marine  officers,  who  have  always  served  with 
marked  ability  and  attained  high  rank. 

JX  recent  times  perhaps  no  Huntington  man  has 
done  more  to  earn  the  lasting  gratitude  of  his 
townspeople  nor  occupied  positions  of  greater 
prominence  and  responsibility  than  Temple  Prime. 
Born  of  good  old  Huntington  stock  he  inherited 
the  best  tendencies  and  developed  them  to  the 
gratification  of  his  countrymen.  He  represented 
the   United  States  in  diplomatic  capacity  with 


THE  PROTESTAN1  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  AND  GRAVEYARD 


pronounced  success.  His  last  years  were  spent  in 
Huntington,  where  in  a  quiet  way  he  put  into  exe- 
cution many  enterprises  which  were  and  still  are 
of  great  benefit  to  the  community.  Educational 


interests  were  uppermost  in  his  thoughts  and 
endeavors,  and  his  name  will  ever  be  linked  with 
the  excellent  record  of  the  Huntington  public 
schools. 


SOME  OF  NATHAN  HALE'S  MEMORIALS 


Nathan  Hale 


AN  article  written  by  Stephen  Hempstead, 
Sr.,  published  by  the  Long  Island  Star, 
1827,  says :  "  I  was  attached  to  Capt. 
Hale's  Company  in  Col.  Webb's  Regi- 
ment of  Continental  troops  and  in  his  confidence. 
After  the  retreat  of  our  army  from  Long  Island  he 
informed  me  he  was  sent  for  by  Headquarters  and 
was  solicited  to  go  over  to  Long  Island  to  discover 
the  disposition  of  the  enemy's  camp.  He  said  I 
was  to  go  with  him  as  far  as  I  could  with  safety 
and  wait  for  his  return."  He  tells  of  going  as  far 
as  Norwalk  and  of  Hale  taking  passage  for  Hunt- 
ington, and  of  his  being  captured  at  "  The  Ced- 
ars," Mother  Chichester's  Tavern. 

.Onderdonk,  the  historian,  says:  "Capt.  Hale, 
an  American  spy,  was  detected  near  Huntington 
and  executed  in  New  York."  Accounts  differ 
widely,  however.  The  following  story  of  this 
Revolutionary  hero,  compiled  from  authentic 
sources,  has  been  most  carefully  written  and  all 
points  verified  by  consulting  all  possible  sources  of 
information. 


He  was  born  in  Coventry,  Conn.,  June  6,  1755, 
the  sixth  son  of  stern  Deacon  Richard  Hale  and 
his  wife  Elizabeth.  He  developed  into  a  large 
framed  youth  six  feet  tall,  fond  of  outdoor  exer- 
cise. He  was  the  best  all  round  athlete  in  Yale 
College,  which  he  entered  at  the  age  of  sixteen 
years.  He  was  an  able  debater  and  was  popular 
with  his  classmates.  His  motto  was  "  A  man 
ought  never  to  lose  a  moment."  This  was  a  direct 
inheritance  from  his  pious  and  indefatigable  father. 

His  father  intended  him  for  the  ministry,  but  he 
became  a  schoolmaster  and  his  first  charge  was  at 
East  Haddam,  Conn.  His  father,  on  his  second 
marriage,  brought  into  the  household  a  step 
daughter,  Alice.  An  attachment  sprung  up  be- 
tween the  two  which  the  deacon  opposed.  Ac- 
cording to  the  custom  of  those  days  he  promptly 
married  her  to  Merchant  Ripley. 

On  receipt  of  news  of  the  Battle  of  Lexington, 
Hale,  in  addressing  a  mass  meeting,  advocated 
marching  on  to  Boston.  He  joined  the  Revolu- 
tionary army.    He  first  saw  active  service  in  the 


MOTHER  CHICS' 


INJM— THE  PLACE  OF  NATHAN  HALE'S  DISCOVERY 


defense  of  New  London.  On  September  24, 
through  Johnathan  Trumbull,  he  was  introduced 
to  Washington. 

While  on  a  furlough  he  received  a  captain's  com- 
mission. At  about  this  time  it  is  related  that  he 
cut  evening  prayers  to  attend  a  wrestling  match. 

Following  the  evacuation  of  Boston,  a  British 
sloop  anchored  in  the  East  River.  Hale,  of  his 
own  volition,  captured  this  sloop  from  under  the 
guns  of  an  English  war  vessel  and  conducted  her 
into  American  lines. 

As  he  succeeded  in  his  attempt  he  received 
thanks  and  forgiveness  instead  of  censure  for  his 
unauthorized  action. 

In  1776  Washington,  with  14,000  men,  found 
himself  awaiting  the  attack  of  25,000  foreign  vet- 
erans. The  contemplated  British  move  was  of 
vital  importance,  as  a  simultaneous  attack  from 
both  the  North  and  East  Rivers  would  have  des- 
troyed the  American  army  on  Manhattan  Island. 
Washington  called  his  officers  together  and  asked 
for  a  spy.  Hale,  who  had  been  ill,  arrived  late  and 
was  the  only  officer  to  volunteer  to  undertake  to 
secure  the  desired  information. 


Captain  John  Hull,  a  close  friend  of  Hale's,  ad- 
vised against  it,  saying  that  detection  was  certain. 
Dressed  as  a  schoolmaster  Hale  walked  forty  miles 
from  Harlem  Heights  and  crossed  on  the  foggy 
night  of  September  15,  1776,  to  Long  Island,  land- 
ing in  Huntington  at  a  place  afterward  called  "  The 
Cedars,"  near  a  Tory  tavern  kept  by  Widow  Chi- 
chester. He  reached  New  York  in  safety,  re- 
mained two  weeks  within  the  British  lines  and 
undoubtedly  secured  much  valuable  information. 
On  his  return  to  Huntington  his  success  in  escap- 
ing detection  made  him  reckless  and  overconfi- 
dent. Although  in  the  enemy's  country,  sur- 
rounded by  British  officers  and  Tories,  he 
attracted  attention  in  conversation  with  the  offi- 
cers, was  recognized  by  one  of  the  Tories,  said  to 
be  a  relative,  and  betrayed.  Madame  Chichester, 
rushing  into  the  room,  declared  that  a  boat  was  ap- 
proaching the  shore.  Hale,  throwing  all  caution 
aside,  rushed  out  of  the  tavern  and  down  to  the 
shore,  expecting  to  meet  a  boat  from  a  patriot 
ship.  He  gesticulated  and  hailed,  and  discovered 
when  he  reached  the  craft  that  it  was  filled  with 
the  enemv.    Hale  was  taken  aboard  the  British 


MEMORIAL  LIBRARY-SOLDIERS'  MONUMENT  AND  NATHAN  HALE  COLUMN  AT  THE  FOOT  OF  FORT 

GOLGOTHA  HILL 


guardship  Halifax,  Captain  Quarne  commanding, 
and  thence  was  sent  to  General  Howe's  headquar- 
ters at  New  York.  His  first  prison  was  a  green- 
house connected  with  the  old  Beekman  mansion, 
Fifty-first  Street  and  First  Avenue.  Discovering 
on  Hale  drawings  of  fortifications  and  details  of 
great  importance  to  the  Colonial  army,  Howe, 
recognizing  the  value  to  be  gained  by  securing 
Hale's  services,  offered  him  free  pardon  providing 
he  entered  the  British  army.  Hale  refused  and 
Howe  ordered  Provost  Marshal  Cunningham  to 
hang  him  at  daybreak,  September  27,  1776.  The 
old  jail  stood  on  the  east  side  of  City  Hall  Park,  in 
New  York  City,  under  what  was  later  the  Hall  of 
Records,  and  has  recently  been  torn  down. 

He  was  refused  writing  materials  and  even  the 
Bib'e  by  the  brutal  Cunningham.  A  guard,  how- 
ever, furnished  the  desired  articles,  and  Hale  spent 
the  night  writing  letters. 


Cunningham  demanded  a  confession.  Hale's 
reply  was  in  the  epigrammatic  sentence : 

"  I  only  regret  that  I  have  but  one  life  to  lose 
for  my  country." 

Cunningham  at  once  ordered  his  negro  hangs- 
man,  Richmond,  to  "  swing  the  rebel  off." 

The  news  was  carried  to  Alexander  Hamilton, 
then  captain  of  artillery,  by  a  British  officer  under 
a  flag  of  truce. 

Near  the  spot  where  Hale  was  captured,  on  the 
shore  of  Huntington  Bay,  a  large  glacial  boulder 
bearing  three  bronze  tablets, suitably  inscribed, has 
been  placed.  In  the  village  center,  at  Huntington, 
and  most  appropriately  close  to  the  Memorial 
Building,  a  shaft  of  polished  marble  and  a  public 
drinking  fountain  for  man  and  beast  have  been 
erected.  Various  statues  have  been  erected  in  bis 
memory,  notably  at  City  Hall  PaiK.  New  York 
City,  and  on  the  Yale  campus,  Xew  Haven,  Conn. 


WALT  WHITMAN,  HIS  HOME  AND  HIS  INSPIRING  OAK 


Walt  Whitman 


OF  the  many  literary  men  who  have  made 
their  homes  in  Huntington  perhaps  none 
lias  occupied  a  more  prominent  place  in 
the  public  mind  than  Walt  Whitman, 
bard  of  Huntington.  Many  of  the  happiest  days 
of  his  life  were  spent  in  the  good  old  town  of  Hunt- 
ington, and  it  is  universally  conceded  that  his  best 
work  was  inspired  by  the  charming  surroundings 
of  his  simple  home  at  West  Hills.  Read  carefully 
his  "  Specimen  Days  *'  and  you  get  not  only  a  fair 
insight  into  what  was  best  in  his  makeup,  but  also 
many  strong  suggestions  as  to  what  he  found  most 
enjoyable  in  life.  His  passionate  love  of  country 
life  was  fed  by  a  wealth  of  attractions,  which,  odd- 
ly enough,  are  practically  the  same  to-day  as  in  the 
time  when  the  poet  roamed  through  the  hills, 
woods,  and  orchards. 

The  quaint  old  house  in  which  he  made  his  home 
is  still  standing  and  is  still  used  as  a  home.  The 


arrangements  have  been  changed  but  little.  The 
old  time  architecture  gives  a  charm  to  the  house 
and  the  little  kitchen  garden  is  fenced  in,  as  in 
many  other  old-fashioned  homes.  Not  far  from 
his  home,  near  the  house  of  Philo  Place,  is  the 
grand  old  oak  which  Whitman  eulogized.  The 
fine  old  woods,  the  bubbling  springs,  the  babbling 
brooks,  the  broad  and  fertile  fields,  which  made  the 
poet's  heart  throb  and  brought  lustre  to  his  eye, 
are  just  as  beautiful  to-day  as  in  the  days  when 
Whitman  explored  them.  Admirers  of  his  writ- 
ings, who  make  pilgrimages  from  different  points 
to  see  his  former  home  and  the  glorious  country 
surrounding,  which  moved  him  to  passion,  are 
filled  with  delight,  and  it  has  been  said  full  many 
a  time  that  there  was  in  Whitman  more  than  mere 
poetic  fancy,  surely  sound  judgment  and  apprecia- 
tion of  what  is  really  good  in  life,  or  he  never  would 
have  made  his  home  among  the  hills  of  Huntington. 


THE  CROSS  ROADS  WELL  AT  COM  MACK 


Historical  Briefs 


IN  1771  there  was  an  outbreak  of  smallpox  and 
variolus  inoculation  was  practised,  in  many 
cases  with  fatal  results.  Popular  indignation 
resulted  in  prohibiting  any  persons  except 
Dr.  Gilbert  Porter  and  Dr.  Daniel  Wiggins  from 
practising  inoculation.  A  penalty  of  £10  was  im- 
posed for  violation  of  this  order.  Patients  were 
inoculated  and  confined  in  quarantine.  They  fully 
recovered.  Dr.  Wiggins  practised  in  the  Eastern 
section  of  Huntington,  Dr.  Potter  at  Coldspring 
Harbor. 

The  first  fort  erected  was  for  protection  from 
Indians  in  the  year  1680.  It  was  destroyed  and 
the  materials  donated  to  the  town  minister. 

A  dwelling  and  15  acres  of  cleared  land  in  the 
early  years  was  worth  £10  12s.,  while  two  cows 
were  valued  at  £9  10s. 

The  only  record  of  Indian  trouble  was  at  Cold- 
spring  in  1681,  at  the  house  of  John  Robinson. 
The  Indians  stole  guns,  tobacco,  venison,  and  rum. 

The  white  settlers  erected  at  West  Hills  a  stone 
fort,  which  they  occupied  nights  when  out  hunting. 


It  was  where  Samuel  Coill's  orchard  is.  It  was  a 
solid  mahogany  building  without  doors,  reached 
by  a  ladder. 

About  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century  there 
were  large  quantities  of  wheat,  rye,  and  corn 
grown.  Five  flour  mills  were  in  constant  opera- 
tion and  saw  mills  on  all  the  brooks. 

On  September  14,  1775,  the  Provincial  Congress 
sent  100  pounds  of  powder  to  the  town  of  Hunt- 
ington. 

On  September  5,  1775,  Gilbert  Porter,  of  Hunt- 
ington, was  elected  lieutenant-colonel  at  a  meet- 
ing held  at  Smithtown.  The  first  three  companies 
of  the  First,  or  Western  Regiment  of  Suffolk 
County,  elected  their  officers  at  Huntington. 

In  the  early  days  Indian  sewant  pr  wampum  was 
used  very  largely  in  place  of  money.  John 
Jacob  Astor  employed  men  on  Long  Island  to 
make  it,  that  he  might  send  it  to  the  Northwest 
and  exchange  it  with  Indians  for  furs.  As  wam- 
pum was  made  from  shells,  and  immense  shell- 
heaps  are  found  to-day  in  several  parts  of  Hunt- 


I'KoDl  CIS  OK  THE  FERTILE  SOIL-OE  VITAL  IMPORTANCE  TO  THE  COLQNISTS 


ington  town,  it  is  probable  that  the  Huntington 
Indians  were  engaged  in  tins  work. 

It  was  in  court  that  the  name  "  Bungtown  "  was 
first  used.  A  woman  who  was  a  witness  against  a 
Kanaka,  who  was  arrested  for  disturbing  the 
peace,  hesitated  when  asked  where  she  lived,  then 
answered  "  Bungtown."  The  name  has  stuck  to 
the  place  ever  since. 

Most  of  the  Coldspring  Harbor  whaleships  were 
very  successful,  but  the  "  Old  Tuscarora  "  was  con- 
sidered very  unlucky. 

Woolen  manufacture  was  begun  at  Coldspring 
Harbor  about  1700. 

In  1705  Gov.  Cornbury  wrote  to  England:  "  1 
am  well  informed  that  upon  Long  Island  and  Con- 
necticut they  are  setting  up  a  woolen  manufacture 
and  I  myself  have  seen  serge  made  on  Long  Island 
that  any  man  may  wear.  Now,  if  they  begin  to 
make  serge  they  will  in  time  make  coarse  cloth, and 
then  fine.  *  *  *  I  hope  I  may  be  pardoned  if 
I  declare  my  opinion  to  be  that  all  these  colonies, 
which  are  but  twigs  belonging  to  the  main  tree 
(England),  ought  to  be  kept  entirely  dependent 
upon  and  subservient  to  England." 


The  salt  meadows  at  Coldspring  Harbor  were 
"  sold  at  an  outcry  by  an  inch  of  ye  candle."  The 
person  who  bid  last  as  the  candle  flame  expired 
took  the  property.  This  was  a  general  practice  for 
many  generations  at  auction  sales. 

Matinecock  Indians  had  a  village  in  Wigwam 
Swamp  (Coldspring  Harbor).  There  was  a  very 
large  shell  heap  near  Whitewood  Point  as  late  as 
1825.  A  shell  heap  of  considerable  size  is  on  the 
DeForest  property  at  the  present  time,  partially 
covered  by  vegetation,  and  another  is  on  the  west 
side,  near  the  School  of  Biology. 

In  the  early  days  there  were  apparent  inconsist- 
encies in  Huntington  town.  Rum  was  a  very  com- 
mon article  of  trade,  yet  there  was  a  heavy  penalty 
for  drunkenness.  There  were  also  penalties  for 
swearing,  for  lying,  and  for  bigamy.  One  man 
was  fined  for  carrying  a  bag  of  nual  through  Cold- 
spring  Harbor  "  during  ye  meeting  hour."  An- 
other was  fined  "  for  driving  his  steer  home  on  ye 
Sabbath." 

Many  of  the  early  settlers  of  Coldspring  Har- 
bor were  engaged  in  trading  at  ports  in  the  Barba- 
dos, the  Carolinas,  and  the  West  Indies. 


COLDSFRING  GRIST  MILL  AND  NORTH  FORT  "  TROUGH  "  MILL 


On  April  I,  1690,  the  town  trustees  voted  and 
consented  that  there  should  he  laid  out  fxD  acres  of 
land  "  upon  ye  north  side  of  ye  Wigwam  Swamp 
(Coldspring  Harbor)  a  top  on  ye  hill  reserved  for 
a  parsonage  lot." 

The  oldest  house  in  Coldspring  Harbor  is  more 
than  250  years  old.  It  was  occupied  during  the 
revolutionary  period  by  Capt.  John  Rudyard  and 
family.  He  was  the  son  of  Col.  Thomas  Rudyard. 
He  was  the  owner  of  the  brig  Lucinda,  making 
voyages  across  the  ocean.  He  was  away  during 
the  battle  of  Long  Island.  When  he  returned,  find- 
ing that  his  family  had  been  annoyed  by  the  de- 
mands of  British  soldiers,  he  had  three  iron  bars 
made  for  each  door  of  his  house.  One  of  his 
daughters  married  a  British  officer  and  went  to 
Nova  Scotia  to  live,  as  her  husband  declared  he 
could  not  live  under  the  American  flag. 

In  1805,  when  the  Rev.  Marmaduke  Earle,  of 
Oyster  Bay,  was  preaching  in  Coldspring  Harbor, 
there  was  a  revival  of  religious  feeling.  One  hun- 
dred people  were  immersed  in  the  water  of  the  har- 
bor in  the  severe  winter.  The  ice  was  cut  away  to 
permit  the  impressive  ceremony  to  be  performed. 


It  is  said  that  the  first  paper  made  in  America 
was  manufactured  at  the  paper  mill  at  the  dam 
crossing  the  cove  just  in  front  of  the  old  Conklin 
property  at  Coldspring  Harbor.  One  of  the  Conk- 
lins  sent  the  paper  to  England  and  had  a  Bible 
printed  on  it,  the  first  printed  on  American  paper. 

Coldspring  Harbor  was  called  by  the  old  naviga- 
tors Natchaquatuck  River.  Long  Island  Sound 
was  called  by  the  Indians  Caumsett. 

John  Adams  built  the  first  mill  in  Coldspring 
Harbor,  about  1660. 

In  1680  a  grant -was  made  to  John  Robinson  by 
the  town.  The  next  year  the  Indians  broke  into 
his  house,  rolled  out  a  barrel  of  rum,  stole  guns 
and  clothing  and  so  frightened  him  and  his  family 
that  they  fled  in  the  night  to  Huntington. 

In  1682  a  grant  was  made  by  the  town  to  John 
Adams  to  build  a  saw  mill;  in  1790  to  Devine 
Hewlett  to  build  a  grist  mill;  in  1782  to  Richard 
Conklin  to  build  a  paper  mill.  These  were  all  at 
Coldspring  Harbor. 

Land  was  first  owned  in  Coldspring  7Tarbor  as 
a  homestead  in  1665. 

At  the  first  recorded  meeting  of  the  trustees 


THE  OLD  GRIST  MILL,  UAUYLON-NOVV  USED  FUR  MANUFACTURING  TOY  WHIPS 


of  Huntington  the  first  business  transacted  was  to 
declare  void  an  order  of  commissioners  laying  out 
a  highway  in  "  Wigwarm  Swamp  "  (Coldspring 
Village),  July  12,  1695. 

The  wigwams  of  Long  Island  Indians  were  fif- 
teen or  twenty  feet  wide  and  eighty  or  more  feet 
long,  as  the  families  might  conjointly  require.  The 
frame  was  made  of  two  rows  of  poles,  bent  to- 
gether and  covered  with  rushes.  The  bridge  was 
left  open  for  the  smoke  to  escape.    This  frame  was 


interlaced  with  the  bark  of  trees.  Each  family 
had  its  own  fire  for  cooking  and  comfort.  Their 
utensils  consisted  of  earthen  pots  and  gourds. 

Jonas  Chichester  was  the  last  deputy  sent  to 
Connecticut  from  Huntington,  in  1663. 

Previous  to  1793  there  was  no  post  office  on 
Long  Island.  In  1775  a  Scotchman  rode  a  volun- 
tary post  to  Huntington.  This  was  a  violation  of 
law,  but  the  necessity  of  the  case  condoned  the 
offense. 


THE  G.  A.  R.'S  ANNUAL  MARCH  OF  MEMORIES 


The  Celebration 


THE  occasion  of  the  250th  anniversary  of 
the  settlement  of  Huntington  has  been 
seized  upon  as  the  proper  time  for  a  cele- 
bration. Uniting  the  feelings  of  pride, 
which  are  natural  under  the  circumstances,  with 
the  patriotic  sentiments  of  the  Fourth  of  July,  this 
date  has  been  selected  for  the  observance.  All  the 
people  of  Huntington  have  united  in  the  prepara- 
tions for  the  event,  and  there  has  been  a  zest  in  the 
perfection  of  plans  which  from  the  very  first 
augured  success  for  the  undertaking. 

The  programme,  as  definitely  arranged  in  ad- 
vance, is  as  follows : 

Friday  Evening,  July  3. — Reception  of  old  resi- 
dents in  the  Central  Presbyterian  Church ;  Colo- 
nial Ball  at  the  Opera  House. 

Saturday,  July  4. — Sunrise,  gun  salute  and  gen- 
eral flag  raising  throughout  the  town ;  meeting  of 
committees  in  Opera  House  at  8  130  a.  m.  9  a.  m. — 
Parade  and  flag  raising  on  site  of  old  British  Fort 
Golgotha  on  Burying  Ground  Hill  by  G.  A.  R. 
Post,  cadet  corps  of  school  assisting;  dedication 


of  cannon  donated  by  U.  S.  War  Department ; 
singing  by  school  children  ;  speech  by  Townsend 
Scudder.  10  a.  m. — Parade.  1 1  a.  m. — Histori- 
cal address  by  Hon.  H.  C.  Piatt  at  Opera  House. 
Noon. — Colonial  luncheon  for  guests  at  Union 
Club  rooms.  1  p.  m. — blushing  Seventeenth  Sep- 
arate Company's  military  drill  on  Main  street; 
escort  meet  President  Roosevelt ;  bells  ring  and 
cannon  salute ;  address  of  welcome  by  Hon.  Wil- 
liam M.  McKinney ;  invocation  by  the  Rev.  S.  T. 
Carter ;  addresses  by  President  Theodore  Roose- 
velt, Mayor  Seth  Low,  William  H.  Baldwin,  Jr., 
St.  Clair  McKelway,  Thomas  P.  Peters,  U.  S.  Dis- 
trict Attorney  William  J.  Young  and  others  ;  bene- 
diction by  the  Rev.  John  C.  York.  8  p.  M. — Band 
concert.    9  p.  M. — Fireworks. 

This  to  be  followed  on  Sunday,  July  5,  by  a  union 
service  of  the  churches  of  Huntington  village  in 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  the  Rev.  S.  T.  Car- 
ter, D.D.,  preaching. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  officers  and  commit- 
tees having  in  charge  the  celebration  of  the  250th 


BABYLON'S  SPLENDID  SCHOOL 


anniversary  of  the  settlement  of  the  town  of  Hunt- 
ington : 

President,  Henry  S.  Brush. 

Vice-Presidents — Walter  Jennings,  George  W. 
Conklin,  Henry  H.  Denton,  Rowland  Miles,  Carll 
S.  Burr,  Jr.,  J.  K.  Rudyard,  Robert  F.  Gurney,  Ed- 
ward S.  Ireland,  William  Hirsch,  Solomon  Ketch- 
am,  Edward  Daily,  E.  Piatt  Ackerly,  Horatio  Hall, 
Alexander  S.  Gardiner,  Henry  P.  Carll,  August 
Hecksher,  George  S.  Pearsall,  Henry  A.  Brown. 

Treasurer,  Douglass  Conklin. 

Recording  Secretary,  H.  A.  Baylis. 

Corresponding  Secretary,  C.  P.  Rogers. 

Executive  Committee — H.  S.  Brush,  Wm,  Mc- 
Kinney,  Rowland  Miles,  N.  S.  Ackerly,  John 
Smithers,  Thomas  Young,  Rev.  J.  C.  York,  Wm. 
L.  Bingham,  Chas.  Hirsh,  H.  Irmisch,  C.  S. 
Burr.  Jr.,  Wm.  Jones,  Walter  Jennings,  Robert  de 
Forest,  W.  J.  Matheson,  August  Hecksher,  John 
T.  Robb,  Edward  Ireland,  R.  F.  Gurney,  H.  H. 
Denton,  Horatio  Hall,  W.  Wilton  Wood,  Edward 
Daily,  Solomon  Ketcham,  John  E.  Ireland.  J.  B. 
Cooper,  S.  P.  Hildreth,  Frank  P.  Haff,  Willard  P. 
Reid,  Joseph  Irwin,  Ansel  B.  Gildersleeve,  A.  S. 


Pettit,  S.  K.  Gould,  Thomas  Aitkin,  D.  Woodhull 
Conklin,  Allison  E.  Lowndes,  Emmet  B.  Hawkins, 
Harry  H.  Funnel!,  Isaac  Rogers,  George  R.  Rog- 
ers, George  W.  Conklin,  Edward  Thompson, 
Charles  B.  Scudder,  Charles  1).  Smith,  W.  15.  Sam- 
mis,  W.  Woodhull  Sammis,  Charles  T.  Sammis, 
Henry  T.  Funnell,  Dr.  W.  B.  James,  Geo.  Taylor, 
Arthur  K.  Buxton,  C.  Von  Pustau,  W.  X.  Baylis, 
E.  R.  Ackerly,  E.  A.  Sweet,  Nelson  May,  W.  E. 
Truesdell,  Grant  Hamilton,  George  Hewlett, 
Henry  Rogers,  Ira  1!.  Young,  Edward  Carll,  W. 
H.  Monfort,  Oliver  Carll,  I).  P.  Morse,  John  J. 
Robinson,  J.  P.  Kane,  J.  A.  Fckert,  James  Moffeti, 
Sidney  Smith,  F.  Augustine  Dowden.  T.  Edward 
Dowden,  Carll  Jackson,  Sidney  L.  Seaman,  Solo- 
mon Smith,  L.  H.  Fishel,  John  C.  Robbins,  Jere- 
miah Robbins,  Benjamin  P.  Field,  Dr.  W.  W.  Hew- 
lett, Henry  C.  Piatt.  W.  T.  Louden,  J.  F.  Wood, 
G.  P.  Williams,  Philip  Strack,  George  C.  Hendrick- 
son,  Oscar  E.  Schmidt,  C.  E.  Shepard,  Dr.  G.  P. 
Sword,  Geo.  S.  Pearsall  and  the  officers  of  the 
association. 

Reception  Committee — Joseph  Irwin,  Geo.  W. 
Conklin,     Thomas     Young,    John     F.  Wood, 


Henry  F.  Sammis,  William  McKinney,  Carll  S. 
Burr,  Sr.,  William  Nichol,  J.  N.  R.  Smith,  Chas.  A. 
Hallock,  H.  B.  Fullerton,  C.  H.  Newman,  C.  H. 
Smith,  H.  S.  Brush,  W.  E.  Jones. 

Invitation  Committee — Rev.  Samuel  H.  Seem, 
Rev.  John  C.  York,  Rev.  George  T.  Eddy,  Rev. 
Charles  Tomlinson,  Rev.  John  Mitchell,  Rev.  J.  F. 
Aitkin,  Rev.  A.  H.  Wyatt. 

Decoration  Committee — Fred  B.  Sammis, 
Henry  W.  Gaines,  A.  L.  Field,  Archibald  Fun- 
nell,  William  O'Hora,  Philip  Maurer,  L.  M. 
Brush,  Hewett  G.  Sammis,  A.  H.  Funnell,  William 
Robbins,  Fritz  Galow. 

Stage  Committee — Daniel  L.  Baylis,  Daniel  S. 
Wood,  A.  B.  Gildersleeve,  W.  Wilton  Wood, 
George  A.  Sammis,  Brewster  G.  Sammis. 

Badge  Committee — E.  B.  Dusenberry,  G.  De- 
Kay  Townsend,  Daniel  Gerard. 

Fireworks  Committee — H.  B.  Fullerton,  Philip 
Pearsall,  David  Trainer,  Charles  E.  Sammis. 

Committee  on  Speakers — E.  D.  Davidson,  Rev. 
J.  C.  York,  J.  F.  Wood,  C.  S.  Burr,  Jr.,  Rowland 
Miles,  C.  E.  Shepard. 


Transportation  Committee — Isaac  R.  Swezy,  W. 
Cringle,  Henry  W.  Gaines. 

Press  Committee — Waller  S.  Funnell,  C.  E. 
Shepard,  H.  S.  Rushmore,  Simon  W.  Cooper,  Dan- 
iel Arthur,  H.G.  Simpson,  Henry  Livingston,  Q.B. 
Street,  W.  B.  Trainer,  C.  P.  Rogers,  H.  A.  Baylis. 

Program  Committee — Arthur  Chase,  morning 
exercises;  Henry  T.  Funnell,  afternoon  exercises; 
Philip  Pearsall,  evening  exercises. 

Finance  Committee— Douglass  Conklin,  John 
W.  Arthur,  I.  Whitson  Valentine,  Tunis  Burr, 
John  Colyer,  Charles  E.  Brush,  William  H. 
Stoyle,  O.  Smith  Sammis,  John  B.  Scudder,  Lean- 
der  Wright,  Charles  F.  Hartt,  Stanley  H.  Lowndes, 
Hiram  Baylis,  H.  B.  Fullerton,  W.  B.  Gibson. 

Entertainment  Committee — Miss  Sarah  Maybee, 
Miss  Emma  Brush,  Mrs.  Douglass  Cbntiline, 
Mrs.  John  F.  Wood,  Mrs.  Fred.  L.  Burgess. 
Mrs.  C.  P.  Rogers,  Mrs.  H.  F.  Rogers,  Mrs.  J. 
Newell  Sammis,  Mrs.  John  Arthur,  Mrs.  Willard 
N.  Baylis,  Miss  Elizabeth  Wood,  Miss  Agnes  Rog- 
ers, Miss  Louise  L.  Conklin,  Miss  Nina  Lindsay, 
Miss  Josephine  Brock,  Miss  A.  Haigh,  Mi. .s  Lot- 
tie Gildersleeve. 


WILD  GEESE  AND  OTHER  GAME  ABOUNDED  THEN  AS  NOW. 


Music  Committee — William  S.  Funnell,  Mrs. 
Charles  H.  Smith,  George  F.  Barr,  Mrs.  F.  B. 
Sammis. 

Grand  Army  Committee — George  F.  Barr, 
Walter  R.  Hewlett,  Stephen  Bloxsom,  Willianm 
H.  Beers,  Jonas  Higbie,  A.  P.  Dodge,  N.  S. 
Ackerly  and  representatives  of  Babylon  Post. 

Colonial  Committee — S.  O.   Lee,  Miss  Anna 


Paulding,  Commander  Ebenezer  S.  Prime.  Mrs. 
Frederick  B.  Sammis,  Henry  D.  Kerr,  Miss  Emma 
Paulding,  Mrs.  H.  C.  Piatt.' 

Printing  Committee — H.  B.  Fullerton,  Walter 
S.  Funnell,  C.  E.  Shepard. 

Industrial  Parade  Committee — Geo.  W.  Conk- 
lin. 

Police  Committee — H.  L.  Field,  H.  H.  Denton. 


GOOD  SCHOOLS,  CHURCHES,  ROADS,  WATER  WORKS,  OAS,  ELECTRIC  LIGHT,  TROLLEY  AND  ICE  PLANT 


The  Old  Town  of  Huntington,  Long  Island,  N.  Y. 


HUNTINGTON  to-day  is  one  of  the  most 
thriving  towns  on  Long  Island.  As  a 
business  center  and  as  a  place  of  ideal 
homes  it  challenges  comparison.  Its 
possibilities  have  been  by  no  means  exhausted, 
though  not  neglected,  and  there  is  a  spirit  of  en- 
terprise, which  is  certain  to  result  speedily  in  still 
further  satisfactory  development.  There  is  at  pres- 
ent a  population  of  about  four  thousand.  A  large 
and  rapidly  increasing  summer  contingent,  made 
up  of  city  people,  find  a  sojourn  on  the  shores  or 
among  the  hills  a  most  delightful  way  of  spending 
all  but  the  severely  cold  months. 

This  region  has  through  express  trains,  local 
trolley  lines,  express  and  freight  delivery,  steam- 


boat connection  to  New  York  City  and  New  Eng- 
land, several  newspapers,  telegraph,  telephone, 
electricity,  gas,  waterworks  supplying  artesian 
well  water,  unexcelled  fire  department,  hygeia  ice 
plant,  national  and  state  banks,  opera  houses, 
public  library  and  free  reading  rooms ;  high,  gram- 
mar, primary  schools  and  kindergarten  ;  first-class 
hotels,  many  summer  hotels  and  boarding  houses, 
modern  livery  stables,  exceptional  shopping  facili- 
ties, including  branches  of  leading  department 
stores,  physicians  -and  surgeons  of  high  standing, 
churches  of  all  religious  denominations. 

There  Is  an  exceptional  variety  of  delightful 
drives,  with  surprising  scenic  attractions  ;  safe  sail- 
ing, still-water  bathing,  and  excellent  fishing. 


A  Hearty  Welcome,  Neighbor! 


ARE-UNION  and  Reception  will  be  held  on 
the  Evening  of  July  3,  1903,  in  the  Central 
Presbyterian  Church,  to  whose  Pastor,  Elders, 
and  Trustees,  The   250TH  Anniversary  Associa- 
tion is  indebted  for  this  neighborly  courtesy. 


QUESTION  and  ANSWER 

Quickly  Transmitted  and  Received 

TELEPHONIC  COMMUNICATION 

Most  Rapid  and  Satisfactory  of  all  Methods 


New  York  &  New  Jersey  Telephone  Co. 

81  Willoughby  Street,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 


THE  CORN  EXCHANGE  BANK 

CITY  OF  NEW  YORK 


QUEENS  COUNTY  BRANCH 

WILLIAM  L.  WOOD,     ....  Manager 
J.  HARVEY  WOODHALL,    .  Ass't  Manager 

ADVISORY 

BOARD 

Wm.  A.  Nash 

Walter  E.  Frew 

T.  T.  Barr 

J.  B.  Woodruff 

William  Halls,  Jr. 

Emanuel  Lehman 

M.  A.  Metzner 

Wm.  F.  Havemeyer 

W.  H.  Baldwin,  Jr. 

James  R.  Willets 

J.  H.  Smedley 

G.  J.  Garrettson 

J.  S.  Alerbach 

W.  H.  Nichols 

Chas.  Ca 

.  $2,000,000 

Surplus  and  Profits, . 

.  3,150,000 

.  32,000,000 

WILLIAM  A.  NASH, 

WALTER  E.  FREW,     .  . 

.  Vice-President 

THOMAS  T.  BARR,     .  . 

.  Vice-President 

FREDERICK  T.  MARTIN, 

.  Cashier 

WM.  E.  WILLIAMS,    .  . 

.    Ass't  Cashier 

Safe  Deposit  Vaults 

For  Rent,  $5.00  a  Year  and  upwards 
BANKING  HOURS 

8:30  A.  M.  to  4  P.  M. 
Saturdays,  8:30  A.  M.  to  12  Noon 

Checks  Drawn  on  this  Bank  are  payable  through 
the  New  York  Clearing  House  without  charge 

YOUR    ACCOUNT  SOLICITED 


North 
Shore 


Water  Front 


Bargains  Houses  &f  Farms 


Daniel 
M. 

Gerard 


Special 
List.... 


FURNISHED  6? 
UNFURNISHED  Huntington 
COTTAGES  L.  I. 


HUNTINGTON  HOUSE 

Corner  Wall  and  Main  Streets,  Huntington,  N.  Y. 


Bath    and    All  Improv 
ESTABLISHED  1833 
Telephone  Call  —  1 6  Huntington 


JESSE   L.  SMITH  &  SH 


CHARLES  H.  SM1T1 


ST.  PATRICK'S  CATHOLIC  CHURCH 


THE  history  of  Catholicity  in  Hunt- 
ington is  the  history  of  the 
Catholic  religion  in  Suffolk 
County.  It  arose  from  very  humble  be- 
ginnings. Brought  here  principally  by 
Irish  immigrants  in  search  of  better  con- 
ditions and  more  peaceful  times  than  they 
had  left  in  Ireland,  it  has  taken  deep  root 
and  promises  in  the  not  distant  future  to 
multiply  a  hundredfold. 

In  1840  one  Catholic  missionary-priest 
went  about  Suffolk  County  visiting  once 
in  three  months  Greenport,  Riverhead, 
Sag  Harbor,  Islip,  Smithtown,  and  Hunt- 
ington in  search  of  Catholics  to  minister 
to  them  the  comforts  of  their  religion. 

In  sixty  years  that  one  extensive  parish 
has  developed  into  twenty-five  parishes, 
with  almost  as  many  resident  priests,  and 
a  church-going  population  of  eight  thou- 
sand. In  1840,  the  Catholic  Church  did 
not  hold  so  much  as  a  single  piece  of  real 
estate  in  the  county.  To-day  her  hold- 
ings amount  to  six  hundred  thousand  dol- 
lars. 

The  church  was  incorporated  January 
3,  1865.  The  incorporators  were  John 
Loughlin,  John  F.  Turner,  J.  J.  Crowley, 
Patrick  Dowden,  and  Mott.  Hoban 

What  constituted  the  parish  of  Hunt- 
ington thirty  years  ago  is  now  divided 
into  eight  distinct  parishes:   Oyster  Bay, 


Northport,  Amityville,  Farmingdale, 
Babylon,  Bayshore,  Brentwood,  and  Islip. 

The  pioneer  Catholic  missionaries  held 
services  in  private  houses  in  the  various 
districts  and  townships  of  the  county 
from  1840  to  1849. 

One  house  now  standing  where  mass 
was  celebrated  in  Huntington  and  mar- 


riages and  christenings  performed  is  the 
Hoban  Homestead,  near  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church. 

On  August  15th,  1849,  the  first  Catho- 
lich  Church  in  Huntington,  and  probably 
in  Suffolk  County,  was  opened.  It  was  sit- 
uated on  the  road  leading  from  West 
Neck  to  Coldspring  Harbor  on  ground 
which  is  now  devoted  to  burial  purposes. 


The  Catholics  for  miles  around  attended 
mass  there  till  it  was  destroyed  by  fire  in 
1866.  The  Rev.  Jeremiah  J.  Crowley,  who 
was  pastor  at  the  time,  set  about  to  pur- 
chase a  more  desirable  site  for  a  church. 
He  secured  the  present  admirable  property 
on  Main  and  Anderson  streets,  a  plot 
200  feet  square,  and  built  upon  it  a  sub- 
stantial brick  church,  which  seats  500  peo- 
ple, at  a  cost  of  $29,000.  This  church  was 
dedicated  on  June  27,  1869,  by  Bishop 
Loughlin.  Father  Crowley's  labors  ex- 
tended to  Oyster  Bay,  Babylon,  Islip,  Bay- 
shore,  Northport,  and  Eaton's  Neck,  and 
everywhere  among  the  old  people  his  name 
and  memory  are  held  in  benediction. 

After  a  rule  of  thirty-five  years  Bishop 
McDonnell  transferred  him  to  a  lighter 
charge  in  Brooklyn,  where  he  was  pastor 
emeritus  of  St.  Ambrose  Church.  Father 
Crowley  died  >n  August  28,  1901.  and  his 
remains  lie  buried  in  the  dear  old  Hunt- 
ington that  he  loved  so  well. 

St.  Patrick's  communicants  number  650 
adults,  150  children;  total,  800.  The  value 
of  property  is  $40,000.  The  non-resident 
priests  were  Rev.  John  O'Donnel',  1840; 
Kev.  Michael  Curran,  1846;  Rev.  Edward 
McGuinness,  1847;  Rev.  John  McCarthy. 
1854;  Rev.  Michael  O'Neill,  1858.  Resi- 
dent, Rev.  J.  J.  Crowley,  i860;  Rev.  John 
C.  York,  1895- 


Copies  of  this 

. .  Souvenir . . 

Mailed  to  any  Address  for  FIFTY  CENTS  by 
DAVID  W.  TRAINER 

HUNTINGTON 

Stationery 
Souvenirs  and 

Sporting  Goods  LONG  ISLAND,  N.  Y. 

Suffolk  Hotel 

CHARLES  A.  HALLOCK,  Proprietor 

-  HUNTINGTON,  N.  Y. 

Every  Accommodation  for  Permanent 
and  Transient  Guests  


First  Class  Livery 
in  Connection 


THE  BEST  OF 
EVERYTHING 


1653  — Tallow  Dip  Electric  Light— 1903 

Suffolk  Electrical  Co. 

Huntington,  Long  Island,  N.  Y. 

Electrical  Contractors  and  Machinists 

TELEPHONE  :  37  HUNTINGTON 

Motto  —  Promptness    and  Accuracy 

Gilbert  F.  Caire,  LL.B. 

Auctioneer,  Real  Estate  and  Insurance  Broker 

Elegant  Farms,  Shore  Fronts,  and  the  finest  Village  Property  For  Sale 
in  the  Town  of  Huntington  and  at  Oyster  Bay,  N.  Y. 

COTTAGES,  FURNISHED    OR    UNFURNISHED,   TO    RENT    FOR    THE  SEASON 

$20,000  to  Loan  on  Bond  and  Mortgage 

All  Legal  Papers  Executed 
Office  :   Hirschfeld   Building,  opposite  Bank,  Huntington,   N.  Y. 


BANK    OF  HUNTINGTON 

Capital  Stock,  $30,000  Surplus,  $70,000 


THOMAS  YOUNG 
President 


HENRY  F.  SAMMIS 
Vice-President 


DOUGLASS  CON  KLIN 
Cashier 


Transacts  a  general  banking  business. 
Conservatively  and  carefully  managed. 
It  solicits  accounts  of  firms  and  indi- 
viduals, assuring  them  facilities  equal  to 
city  banks.  All  deposits  by  mail  ac- 
knowledged on  receipt.  Collections 
promptly  made  on  all  accessible  points. 

HUNTINGTON,  N.  Y. 


A  Good  Advertisement  Well  Placed 


DOES  THE  BUSINESS 


Our  Record  Proves  It 
TRY  MODERN  METHODS,  AND  = 


-THE  FULLERTONS 

HUNTINGTON,     ::     LONG  ISLAND,  N.  Y. 


Skill  Counts 


Plumbing,  Steam  and  Gas  Fitting,  Heating  and 

$fo  ~ 

Cooking  Outfitting,  Roofing  and  Guttering. 

DONE  BY  SKILLED  WORKMEN 

WE  HOLD  FIRST  PLACE 


S.  E.  GRANT 

121  WALL  STREET 
HUNTINGTON,  N.  Y. 


MORRISON  &  THOMPSON 

NEW  YORK  AVENUE 

HUNTINGTON,  N.  Y. 


An  Ideal  50^res 

Overlooking  Long  Island  bound 

Property  Magnificent  water  outlook 


A  view  of  i  50  miles  in  both  directions. 
Plenty  of  fruit,  fine  spring  water,  etc. 


E*ery thing  desirable  for 

Summer  Residence,  Price  S  5  >  5  00 


D.  M.  GERARD 

HUNTINGTON,  L.  I. 


PURE  AIR  PURE  WATER 

PERFECT  DRAINAGE 

20TH   CENTURY   SCHOOLS   AND    CONVENIENCES  £ 


HOME 

All  the 
Year  Round 


Ideal 
Conditions 


LONG 
ISLAND 


Send  4  cents  postage  for  Summer  Homes 

list  of  hotels  and  boarding  houses. 

Send  6  cents  postage  for  Unique  Long 

Island,  photographic  reproductions. 

Send  8  cents  postage  for  Long  Island, 

illustrated  description. 


LONG  ISLAND  RAILROAD  CO. 

raSK^SK  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York  City 


H untington  and 
"Huntington  South" 


^  Present    Unequaled  Attractions 

Varying  from  Ocean  Beaches  to  Tree  Clad  Hills, 
with  Fertile  Rolling  Land  Connecting.     :    :    :  : 


COMPRISING 

Coldspring 

Commack 

Centreport 

Elwood 

Northport 

Pinelawn 

Greenlawn 

ueer  rariv 

Babylon 

Larkfield 

Amityville 

Halesite 

Melville 

Fair  Ground 

Lindenhurst 

And 

Wyandance 

